Review of Raising Arizona (1987) by Shane M — 08 Jul 2014

Pure screwball comedy done the Coen way. The Coen brothers Joel and Ethan have given audiences movies that intrigue, entertain, or amaze us due to their style, which includes sharp, idiosyncratic dialogue, quirky, unconventional characters, visual gags, symbolism, flamboyant camera work, biblical references, and pathos.

The brothers' style has proven useful in thrillers, crime, and most of the time, comedy movies, which is their specialty when it comes to dark and wry humor, and Raising Arizona shows fans how they can handle a screwball comedy THEIR way.

Raising Arizona follows a criminal named Hi who falls in love with a female police officer named Ed who takes mugshots, which leads him to commit more crimes and get sent back to jail in order to see and talk to her.

Later on, Hi and Ed get married, and when they want kids, it comes as shock to them when the doctor tells them they are unable to have kids as Ed is infertile, and can't adopt due to Hi's criminal record.

The couple later hear a news story about locally famous furniture magnate Nathan Arizona's kids called the "Arizona Quints" (5 kids), so they decide to steal a kid and succeed, but are in danger due to authorities, local bounty hunters, and Hi's dumb prison friends.

The film shocks us with its comedic portrayal of kidnapping (see the dark comedy I mentioned earlier?), and the bounty hunter armed with shotguns, grenades, and having the appearance of a biker. The film also entertains thanks to its quirky sense of humor, outrageous and exaggerated situations, and nonstop laughs throughout.

The movie always seems to hit rather than miss in its jokes, proving that the Coens knew how to make audiences laugh. Joel and Ethan offer us tons of screwball hilarity, but also offer up themes that show audiences the human side of kidnapping, and make the audience question the main characters motives.

As directors, Joel and an uncredited Ethan offer up as much ridiculousness as possible, manage to get out all the laughs in the film, and manage huge commitment from the cast that make this comedy all the more merrier.

The cast easily connect with the project, and offer fans likeable, hilarious characters. Nicolas Cage shines as Hi, a criminal who just loves to commit crime rather than pay for anything, and can't hold down a job, as well as work well alongside Holly Hunter as Ed, a former policewoman who will go to the limits to get a kid, even it it's illegal, showcasing entertaining chemistry between each.

Supporting players like John Goodman and William Forsythe as Hi's prison buddies Gale and Evelle Snoats offer us tons of screwball enjoyment, and to know the fact that the infant is the main focus of all the mess in the film just leaces everyone cracking up nonstop.

One of the funniest screwball comedies ever made, and one of the Coen brothers best.