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| Raising Arizona |
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  (7/10)
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Runtime: 94 m |
| Public Rating: 9.00 (41 votes) |
Director: Joel Coen |
MPAA Rating:  |
| Genre: Comedy |
Year: 1987 |
| Writer(s): Joel Coen, Ethan Coen |
| Reviewed by: Vadim Rizov |
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Raising Arizona isn't a film the world really needs one more review of, but here goes. Before the Coens wanted to make serious dramas but after their stylish noir debut Blood Simple, the Coens went mainstream with their top-grossing film until Fargo, a good-natured screwball comedy that's quite funny and not only earned money but a cult following in the bargain. What's weird is that, while many people who like the filmhave gone on to admire other Coen Bros. films, many love the film and seem to have no idea that the Coens made any other films, or don't care, and would certainly be surprised if they saw, say,Miller's Crossing.
Have no fear though; the film is no aberration. It marked the beginning of the Coens' penchant for showing off oddball types and the lazier elements of society, as well as their condescension to their characters. However, the film lacks the out and out fear of their rustic characters in Fargo, and the Coens seem to be kinda fond of them in a sort of "Ain't that cute?" way. It fits, though; screwball comedies were never about showing off authentic characterizations of real folks. The film also introduced John Goodman as a member of the Coens' stock cast, and gave Joel's wife Frances McDormand a small part which she handles very well; she's gone on to some of her best work in their Fargo.
Raising Arizona is the story of H.I. "Hi" McDonnaugh (a terrific pre-action movie Nicolas Cage), a repeat offender with a fondness for knocking off conveniance stores, and his bride Ed (Holly Hunter, who reprised her role as a tart, demanding wife in O Brother, Where Art Thou?), who are so happy in their marriage they decide to have them a critter. Owing to Ed being infertile, and on hearing about a rich couple who recently had quintuplets, Hi and Ed decide to get themselves one of the babies. Subsequent complications involve loudmouth brother-in-law Glen (Sam McMurray, who in one of the film's funniest films proposes wife swapping), escaped convicts John Goodman (excellent as usual) and William Forsythe ("We felt the institution no longer had anything to offer us"), and bounty hunter of the apocalypse Leonard Smalls (ex-boxer Randall 'Tex' Cobb).
In its smallest moments, Raising Arizona is consistently absorbing and well-acted; in the biggest scenes, including an astounding and hilarious chase/robbery of diapers, it reaches comic greatness. Nonetheless, it's a triumph of style over substance, a terrific caricature from college graduates imagining what trailer park life should be like. And though the Coens sometimes try too hard to be bizarre, for the most part it's a terrifically entertaining, though slightly insubstantial film that was majorly reworked and improved upon in the Coens' best, O Brother. I'm not at a loss to explain the cult following, but it seems a bit undeserved, great quotable lines aside. Still, much worse films have gained bigger followings, and Raising Arizona delivers on its promise to be the last great screwball comedy. It's certainly not Utah.
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