Review of The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) by Shane S — 09 Dec 2011

Norville: It's fun, it's healthy, it's good exercise. The kids will just love it. and we put a little sand inside to make the experience more pleasant. .

"At Hudsucker's industry there's a fast way to the top... and an even faster way down!".

The Hudsucker Proxy is one of the best screwball comedies you could ever wish to see. It's a movie that is so stupid, it's brilliant. The creative minds of Joel and Ethan Coen bring some of there dark themes to an overall light and hilarious film. The movie isn't Fargo or Barton Fink, but it isn't supposed to be. It's closest to Raising Arizona, when you look at there filmography, but it is even better. I am not ashamed to say that The Hudsucker Proxy is one of my favorite Coen films.

Norville arrives in New York and takes a job as a basement mailman at Hudsucker Industries. As he is going in, the president of the company is jumping out. The company high ups now decide to make an imbecile the new president so that stock prices will plummet allowing them to buy them all at an extremely low price. So they hire Norville. Norville brings an overstated stupidity to the movie, along with an amazing idea for the company; mainly in a circle on a piece of paper. "You know... for the kids." .

What I love most about The Hudsucker Proxy is what I love most about every Coen brothers film and that would be all the bizarre, random stuff that happens. This random stuff always seems like it isn't really progressing the story, but it always is. This film is as clear an indicator of the Coen style as any film they have ever made. It has all the bizarre characters like the elevator man Buzz and the fast talking journalist. It has dark themes like suicide covered up by all it's dumb humor. It has an all knowing narrator who works the Hudsucker clock. It is all brilliant and under-appreciated. .

The Hudsucker Proxy is easily the Coen's most underrated film they have made. Most of their movies are adored by critics and the public alike, but somehow this one was not as well received. It's completely impossible for me to understand how someone can adore the Coen's and not love this movie. This movie is pure Joel and Ethan all the way. .

Moses the Clock Man: And that's the story of how Norville Barnes climbed waaay up to the forty-fourth floor of the Hudsucker Buildling, and then fell all the way down but didn't quite squish hisself. You know, they say there was a man who jumped from the forty-FIFTH floor? But that's another story... .