Review of Raising Arizona (1987) by Tom M — 15 Mar 2010

Off-beat comedy from Coen Brothers, their sophomore effort. Probably liked it more now than when I saw it years back. Dimwitted slapstick goofiness gives context for an incredible number of funny asides, background subtleties and hidden sneaky hilarity. Not as sharp and clean as their later films, but there's enough smartness and wit in the script that it was obvious right from the start that there was something special happening with these guys.

Performances are great. John Goodman and Frances McDormand are enjoyable, and had they both not better perfected these shticks in later collaborations with the Coens I probably would have been more impressed. Holly Hunter carries her role well, but is really around to give purpose to Nic Cage, who is the heart of the movie. Sometimes I forget how gifted a comic actor he is. I like this younger part of Cage's career, with films like this or Moonstruck. His charmingly aloof moron stage is much preferable to the action blockbuster bad-movies-only stage he's been in since.

No where near the level of the Coen's best movies, but a fun starting point with more than enough character and substance to be respectable in its own right.