Review of Raising Arizona (1987) by Allen G — 08 Mar 2013

Great film but too many flaws to be what it could have been with the Coen brothers still showing some inexperience beyond their great imagination and scope.

I like the Coen brothers and with Cage being my favourite male actor and Holly Hunter one of my favourite actresses, I had high expectations for this one. While I wasn't left disappointed I still felt that there could have been more- it's not the Coen brothers' best movie, it's not Cage's best movie and it's not Hunters' best movie.

It is funny and it has a unique charm that still holds up many years after it's release. It deserves it's cult status and I'd urge anyone who hasn't seen it to check it out but the plot needs work and feels rushed and though it's not a simple case of style over substance the plot does stick out as the loser of the two.

There's some memorable scenes to make up for the downfalls along with the right tone for the viewer to forgive any faults but it's still lacking in a clear path and almost feels like it was made just because it could be rather than because it should have been. It had the potential to be a favourite of mine and even though it was sad to feel that potential fade as the film progressed, it's still an achievement that it was there for so long in the first place.