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Amos Lassen wrote on 02/10/2011:

“Ben and Arthur”
What a Bomb!!
Amos Lassen
Those of you that follow my reviews know that I never give anything a really bad review. Well, here comes my first really awful really awful review of a really awful film. “Ben and Arthur” has just ranked as my al time worst film (and that is saying something). Usually when something is really bad, I choose not to say anything but in this case this film is so bad that I am afraid it could really hurt our cause. There is no acting, no production, no story and the movie has no value. I always find something good to say about whatever I see, but I have finally found an exception. I like to thank someone for the effort made—usually the director or the writer or the editor, the producer or an actor. In “Ben and Arthur” they are all the same person (and I hope he doesn’t come looking for me). He gives himself two credits before the main title and then about 15 more before the movie starts—this Sam Mraovich (with a name that can’t be pronounced).
I will never understand how this movie ever got made. It is so bad that it makes “Ishtar” look like a classic. In fact I am relegated to use one of my favorite Yiddish words to describe it—it is a piece of “drek”.
There are movies that are so bad that you can have a good laugh when watching them but the only time I laughed was when it was over and then I laughed at myself for watching the entire fiasco.
Some of the mistakes are just inexcusable. For example, the airport in Vermont sits amid Palm trees. Then there was the time that Ben without a shirt on was talking on the phone one second and the next second he had a shirt on and the camera did not even pan away. The office of the priest consisted of a card table—give me a break!
Now there is a decent story line but for the life of me I cannot remember wha it was and I am not about to watch it again in order to find out. Once was more than enough. It just goes to show that a good idea can become a very, very bad movie.
Aside from Sam whatchamacallit, there is a slew of other Mraovich family members. Sam stars, etc. but there is also holy Mraovich in a small role, Chris and Robert Mraovich wrote the music, Chris also edits and worked a camera so obviously Sam felt very strongly about the project. I bet Poppa Mraovich financed it and Momma was the caterer.
So why am I still writing this review? I suppose it is because I wasted time watching the movie so I might as well waste time tearing it apart. I will not say do not see it—instead I say to see it so you will always have something to compare really good movies with.

yawnmower (yawnmower1@juno.com) wrote on 02/08/2005:

Don't judge this DVD by its cover! You might think there's a great story inside, or at least a sexy one with enough pretty people to make it palatable. Not so: there are only two attractive men in the film. One is Jamie Brett Gabel who graces the cover, and the other is the exquisite Arthur Huber who plays a private eye and is on screen for about one minute. Just about every other character is completely insane, and there is more gunplay in this little drama than at the OK Corral. One burning question remains: why the beautiful, muscular Ben would live with, ever-apologize to, much less want to marry a peevish nerd -- except he's the writer/director. In some hands, Reel Life is very, very different from Real Life.

Jon (studentandcute1@yahoo.com) wrote on 01/30/2005:

I liked this movie. It actually had a story. A great one. It kept my interest till the end. It could have used more money, but at least it had a GREAT story. Keep up the good work Sam!

John Nail wrote on 12/14/2004:

Things I learned from watching "Ben & Arthur": 1) FedEx now accepts passengers. Overnight yourself today! 2) Vermont: The OTHER Sunshine State. 3) If you want to change someone's sexuality, simply boil water, transfer it to a shampoo bottle and then tape it to the intended's apartment door. Don't worry about instructions--he'll know what to do from there. 4) Next time you have someone over for dinner, serve graham crackers! People love 'em. 5) When calling about job opportunities and you start asking about apartments, keep going. Hopefully the audience won't notice. 6) Cardboard is a versatile material. Why, you can build an entire church set with it. 7) Someone getting you down, say a gay husband, a no-talent gay activist lawyer or your gay brother? Get yourself a gun, girl! 8) Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio's climactic scene in "Scarface" is a laugh riot when re-enacted by a doughy gay man. 9) For the last time: A hunky guy on the DVD cover does not guarantee on-screen sexiness. When will I learn? 10) "Ben & Arthur's" writer, producer, director, star, cam-corder operator Sam Mraovich deserves to be called the new Ed D. Wood, Jr. Perhaps decades from now his ineptness will be celebrated just as Wood's has.

Ric wrote on 06/21/2004:

This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Bad acting, plot, BAD EVERYTHING. Don't waste your money.