Customer Reviews

Raising Arizona

5 star:		(92)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is one of the best from the Coen Brothers. Hilarious, excellent characters right from the stars (Cage and Hunter) on through. I have seen this movie many times and it never gets tired. While this is a comedy it has a wonderful ending that I found quite moving. Two thumbs, and a bunch of toes up from me

One of the earlier films of the Coen brothers (Joel and Ethan), "Raising Arizona" nevertheless lays the foundation for the Coens' later, more polished efforts.

H.I. ("Hi") McDonough, played with an earnest romanticism by Nicolas Cage, is a classic Coen protagonist. He means well, even if he can't get his master plan to quite come together (this is a man of dreams, forced into the life of a small-time hood by trickle-down economics), and he is prone to speaking in fits of poetry that often go awry ("There's what's right and there's what's right, and never the twain shall meet"). In one of the most inspired courtings ever to be put on film, Hi woos and wins Police Officer Edwina ("Ed"), played by Holly Hunter in a career-defining role, while being booked on numerous occasions.

Denied the joys of parenthood by Ed's infertile womb ("a rocky place where my seed could find no purchase") and Hi's criminal past - Ed's police service doesn't quite "cancel out" Hi's record like they had hoped -- Hi and Ed can't really enjoy their "salad days" in their trailer in the Arizona desert. That is, until the Arizona Quints are born to unpainted furniture magnate Nathan Arizona. Deciding that old Nathan and his wife have more kids than they could handle, Ed and Hi decide to kidnap one of the little nippers. In a scene that parodies "Jaws," Hi snags Nathan Jr., and Ed and Hi are parents.

Unfortunately, Hi's criminal past catches up wtih him as Gale (John Goodman) and Evelle (William Forsythe) break out of prison and hide out with Hi at the family trailer. Soon they are on to Hi's kidnapping, and they decide to pursue their own agenda. Unfortunately for all concerned, bounty hunter Leonard Smalls is on the hunt for the kidnapped youngster, too -- and a nasty bloodhound from hell he is, too. Surely casting "Tex" Cobb in this part is one of the most inspired bits of casting ever!

The movie is chock full of surprises, from the chase scenes involving what seems like ten packs of hounds and more gunfire than one could possibly imagine, to a fight in the trailer that won't be topped until "Kill Bill, Vol. 2," and an over-the-top cameo performance by Frances MacDormand as a nosy neighbor with a fondness for bibical names and a trove of baby advice. The dialogue is rich, filled with comic inspiration and a touching devotion to family. And, like most Coen brothers movies, things generally turn out all right for our heroes, they definitely don't wind up the way they planned.

For fans of the Coens, off-beat comedies, Nic Cage and Holly Hunter (which should describe an awful lot of folks), this is a heck of a film.

Did anyone else notice that while H.I. (Nicolas Cage) was working in the sheet metal factory after being released from prison, the patch on his jumpsuit said "Hudsucker Industries"??

This video will be 50 times funnier to you if you've just had your first kid. Must rent for first time parents.

The Coen Brothers followed their successful film debut of BLOOD SIMPLE with one of the most original and strange comedies ever to be made in America. From the very first shots, as career petty criminal H.I. McDonnough (Nicholas Cage) meets and woos police photographer Ed (Holly Hunter) with each arrest, the film announces that it is not going to dwell much in the world of realism. In fact, the whole film seems to dwell in its own alternative universe with its own logic. Everything works together to confirm this, from the strange camera angles, the deadpan expressions on the faces of many of the performers, the tongue-in-cheek delivery in every scene, the inventive outrageousness of every segment. There are hundreds of brilliant moments, from Leonard Smalls's tattoo ("Mother Didn't Love Me") to the convenience store clerk who interrupts his counting ("One Mississippi, Two Mississippi, Three Mississippi . . .") only to see the bandits returning in their car to Nicholas Cage leaning out of the car to snag a package of Huggies to the strange, weird yodeling that reprises throughout the film.

The film perfectly blends the near perfect script that the Brothers created, with perfect direction, and a bevy of amazingly effective performances. Cage, Hunter, John Goodman, Trey Wilson (who died only a year or two later after this film came out), William Forsythe, Tex Cobb, and a host of supporting performers manage to generate one great scene after another. I have probably seen this film 8 or 9 times over the years, and every time I see it, it strikes me just as fun and as fresh as before.

Every fan of the Coen Brothers is going to have a different set of favorites, but this is probably my second favorite of all their films, following only THE BIG LEBOWSKI. What amazes me after repeated viewings is how the Coens managed to take a large number of elements that could very easily not have meshed, and make something magnificent out of it.

I saw this movie in the theaters, have seen it on cable many times since, and recently rented it for my kids, who are finally old enough to appreciate it. They loved it, and noticed things I hadn't. This movie did not suffer with age, it's not dated at all. If anything I loved watching the now more famous stars in their earlier years i.e. Frances McDormand, Holly Hunter, and John Goodman, not to mention Nick Cage, who should stick with the comedic parts he does so well and forget about ConAir etc. Love this movie!

'Can't add anymore that has not already been said other than this film belongs with "Young Frankenstein", "Blazing Saddles", and "Some Like it Hot!" as the guartet of funniest movies in American cinematic history.

For some reason, I had no idea that this was a Coen brothers production until the end of the movie. Then, when it was all over and the credits began to roll, it all finally made sense. In fact, I didn't know why I hadn't guessed it. Because this movie is so... Coen brothers.

Nicolas Cage plays Hi, a repeat inhabitant of the Tempe, Arizona prison, where he meets police officer Ed (Holly Hunter) and falls in love with her. After Hi's third parole, he agrees to give up his life of crime for Ed, and the two get married. Before long, they decide that they want nothing more than to start a family. Ed, however, is barren -- and they find that it's not exactly easy for a repeat offender to adopt a child.

When Nathan Arizona, owner of the furniture chain, Unpainted Arizona, is blessed with quintuplets, Hi and Ed decide that the Arizonas have more than they can handle -- so they decide to take one of the babies. But before Hi and Ed can settle into their new lives with little Nathan, Jr., Nathan Arizona offers a reward for the baby, and suddenly everyone's after him.

I honestly can't remember the last time I laughed so hard while watching a movie. I laughed so hard that I choked. I almost died -- but really, can you think of a better way to die? I can't.

Raising Arizona is bizarre and quirky -- and just the expression on Nicolas Cage's face throughout this movie (not to mention his wild hair) will keep you snickering from start to finish. Mix the perfectly ridiculous dialogue and the perfect amount of slapstick, and you've got the perfect addition to any DVD collection.

I saw this movie for the first time last night, mainly because I was tired of being bugged by my family and friends to see it. I am truly glad I did. This plot is so wacky and the characters are so disgustingly funny, yet somehow they seem to become more and more believable as normal people towards the end. Such as the two escaped convicts who at first seem to be a couple of slobs with cares for no one, then at the end you realize they end up caring for the baby even more than themselves. All the performances are top notch, and the "Huggies" chase scene that takes place in the middle of the film is classic and had me laughing so hard it gave me a headache for the rest of the night. Give this off-beat comedy a try, and be sure to watch it with as many people as possible, as I did. It makes the experience much more enjoyable.

Once in awhile, you see a movie comedy that almost exactly matches your sense of humor, and RAISING ARIZONA certainly did that for me. Almost every moment that his presented as funny IS funny (at least to me). Yes, it is the story of a rather hapless couple (an ex-con, barely, and a cop) who can't conceive and can't adopt, and thus kidnap one baby from a set of quintuplets. It sounds unpleasant, but is far from it.

The baby is absolutely charming, and softens and charms the hearts of everyone he meets. Not for one instant do we feel the baby is in danger, and thus we can sit back and enjoy the antics.

The Coen Brothers have made lots of stylish movies (FARGO, MILLER'S CROSSING, BLOOD SIMPLE, etc. etc.) but RAISING ARIZONA is stylish in a loose way, if that makes sense. They use stunning camera work and amazing angles, which we are all VERY aware of as viewers, but they serve to add to the humor and tone of the movie. Midway through, there is the funniest chase sequence ever, where poor Hi tries to get diapers for his baby, and gets caught up in a police chase involving cops, vicious dogs, shopping carts and one very ticked off wife!

The movie begins with a fifteen minute opening sequence, quickly telling us the story of how Hi (Nicholas Cage) a three time loser for petty armed robbery (never used live ammo) meets policewoman Edwina (Holly Hunter) as he's having his mug shot taken, and falls for her, gets out of jail, marries, they're happy, then can't have kids and fall into despair. After the opening, the credits start, and we realize, in an amazed way, that we've already seen more story and had more laughs than most movies deliver in their entire length.

The Coens don't waste any energy. Every single line is obviously lovingly crafted for maximum humor and to establish character. Everyone has a rhythm and way of speaking that shows their obvious intelligence and then contrasts that intelligence with their VERY poor choices in life. For example, John Goodman plays one of a pair of brothers who escape from prison (in a hilarious, unforgettable rainsoaked scene) and come to "visit" Hi just a day after he's gotten Jr., the new baby. Goodman will speak wisely with Hi about the shackles of marriage, and then launch on a totally stupid bank robbery.

Nicholas Cage and Holly Hunter have never been better. Cage, in particular, is touching, frustrating, hilarious and at his hangdog best. He's done flashier roles, of course, but seldom has he been more perfectly cast. The wonderful Frances McDormand has a small, but hysterical role.

My friends and I can now quote whole passages of this movie. If you like RAISING ARIZONA, you'll love it. There doesn't seem to be a middle ground. I know a few people who hate the movie, but many more who watch it at least once a year, regular as clockwork. If you haven't seen it, try it. You may make a friend for life!!