Raising Arizona
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation | Release Date: March 13, 1987
8.3
USER SCORE
Universal acclaim based on 180 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
151
Mixed:
26
Negative:
3
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
5
amheretojudgeSep 2, 2019
I don't get the mixture of these many genres at all, I feel unsatisfied and left out from a whole lot of something.

Raising Arizona Coen Brothers' joke is not something I get. I like the humor they have. I get the joke. But it cannot justI don't get the mixture of these many genres at all, I feel unsatisfied and left out from a whole lot of something.

Raising Arizona

Coen Brothers' joke is not something I get. I like the humor they have. I get the joke. But it cannot just be the joke. At the end of the day, it is a film. And it is not particularly the joke that I have an issue with, but it is framed that way. I cannot help but blame that at all. The writer Joel and Ethan Coen sat down to write a classic. That was in their mind. It is frankly clear. Take the set pieces, for instance, that they have created, going out of their way, for either a laugh or an awe. The prologue that eerily resembles with Pixar's Up and also has an equally intimate epilogue to finish the circle beautifully.

But it is the troubling journey that's not captivating as we're promised to. No matter how artistically they are flexing their muscles. The stops are the real issues. The narrative is put on hold when the joke is told and we are told to laugh separately before they start resuming, running, chasing and bickering. Speaking of which, the major laughs are drawn from the reaction that the lead couple offers us after a shocking information is revealed.

Not for us, of course, but for them. Holly Hunter who cries, nay snobs, on demand is the one driving the emotional car. She is doing most of the heavy lifting when it comes to express the views or the state of the couple. Nicolas Cage on the other hand is playing the macho con artist who suppresses his way out of life and walks it off calling it a bad day and bad luck. And blending these two in one room in Raising Arizona, spirals a pretty standard married life oozing the issues that we've all known, experienced and agreed or disagreed to.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
JustinTNov 10, 2007
A strange funny film. Without a doubt my favorite non "Goof-Ball" comedy out there.
0 of 1 users found this helpful
10
AnneB.Nov 10, 2007
Brilliant, even after about 100 viewings. Since seeing this all-time family favorite, I never miss a Coen brothers movie.
0 of 1 users found this helpful
7
CritiqueGirlMar 4, 2011
Funny and I did laugh out loud once but overall it wasn't that great a movie. I only watched it once many years ago and I would probably watch it if friends wanted to.
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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9
CassianJJan 6, 2008
Wow this film just gets better with age. This is a classic movie which proves that script and character will always give you more than any amount of dollars thrown at a movie. This is classic Coen brothers
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
AaronS.Jul 19, 2006
One of the five funniest movies of all time. That loud sound is the movie's brilliance zooming over the long-forgotten L.A. Times critic's head. But apparently she wasn't alone. Inexplicable.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
9
JohnG.Jul 24, 2006
Close to a classic film. Critics tend to overthink the plot, the humor, and story to their own disenchantment. It's Arizona circa 1984 with a twist of Easy Rider, an atmosphere of lingering Goldwater & earthy individualism all marinated Close to a classic film. Critics tend to overthink the plot, the humor, and story to their own disenchantment. It's Arizona circa 1984 with a twist of Easy Rider, an atmosphere of lingering Goldwater & earthy individualism all marinated in original comedic advances. Enjoy it!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
JaredCFeb 5, 2008
It's a sweat film to start their directing career, the Coens did a profound job with Cages superb performance. Everything fine, just the visual never quite came to me and I was practically waited for something to happen but nothing did.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
JayG.Sep 15, 2005
It taps into a part of american redneck culture; and hence comedy- trailers, lawn chairs, country accents, shot guns, and still there is something very human and endearing in the characters and story. A very colorful, hilarious movie.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
rotkuApr 1, 2012
Bizarre, surreal and zany with all the hallmarks of a Cohen brothers movie. Not as polished as some later efforts but that adds to the movie. With great performances from both Cage & Hunter.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
SpangleJun 11, 2013
Certainly one of the zanier movies I've seen. The Coen Brothers are in full force here as you can really see a lot of their "style" in use here and used very effectively as per usual. Cage does very well in the lead role and it really makesCertainly one of the zanier movies I've seen. The Coen Brothers are in full force here as you can really see a lot of their "style" in use here and used very effectively as per usual. Cage does very well in the lead role and it really makes you miss the old Nicolas Cage rather than the one we're forced to see in today's world. Overall, if you like the Coen Brothers, you'll like the movie.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
Compi24Jul 28, 2019
After the duly noted crime stylings of "Blood Simple," the Coen brothers would move on to showcase the other component of what would become their signature voice and style -- humor. "Raising Arizona" finds the Coens falling into the exactAfter the duly noted crime stylings of "Blood Simple," the Coen brothers would move on to showcase the other component of what would become their signature voice and style -- humor. "Raising Arizona" finds the Coens falling into the exact opposite of a sophomore slump, spinning a colorfully rendered, well-acted, and uncommonly charming yarn that just so happens to outdo their first flick in the entertainment value department. As revelatory as "Blood Simple" was for so many back in its time, it's fair to say that the filmmakers behind it moved on to bigger and better things. I just had no idea that those bigger and better things would occur in the form of their very next flick. "Raising Arizona" is fun, funny, deeply heartfelt and rife with that trademark use of semiotics that the filmmaking duo have come to be so well known for. Though it's definitely an early, still slightly unrefined work of theirs, it's more than worth a look.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
MovieGuysJul 7, 2014
While Raising Arizona isn't a bad effort from the Coens, there's something about the movie that makes me think "they can do better." However, it still is quirky and sweet enough to be watchable.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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9
ZachSchellerAug 14, 2016
Pitch perfect Coens comedy while also surprisingly mainstream. It may be their best blend in all their comedies, with a hilarious Nicholas Cage in the lead role.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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8
ahmedaiman1999Apr 30, 2021
With a breakneck pace, Looney Tunes-esque ridiculously-exaggerated sound effects, boisterously rambunctious style, vertiginous camerawork and hysterical editing, I guess calling this **** crazy Coens' crime comedy film a live-action cartoonWith a breakneck pace, Looney Tunes-esque ridiculously-exaggerated sound effects, boisterously rambunctious style, vertiginous camerawork and hysterical editing, I guess calling this **** crazy Coens' crime comedy film a live-action cartoon wouldn't be preposterous. It's wild and quirky, but it's also extremely smart and clever in every respect. Just like a cartoon, it finds humor in the most horrifying scenes by hyperbolizing the violence to the brink of absurdity. But there's also boasts of that signature Coen brothers' stone-faced, deadpan humour here. Uses of repetition and refrains permeate the movie to produce some chuckles, but some of them are inextricably linked to the theme itself, most notably H.I. McDunnough's frequent run-ins with the law. Raising Arizona is also playful and cheeky, and I believe that is where it gains its heart. At the surface, the moments of emotional inertia are played for comedic effect, but they actually make room for H.I. McDunnough to reconsider and reevaluate the whole situation he and his wife are in after kidnapping the baby and ruminates over the consequences he regretfully waits. Nicholas Cage shines in these moments as his face that shows how bested by unavoidable fears he is juxtaposes the rather eccentrically affable atmosphere that predominates the entire movie. Holly Hunter's Ed, though, is the one who retains the emotional core of the movie that's ultimately unveiled by the end to hammer home the sweet message of the story. Hunter is phenomenal, and it's not her fault that the lunatic absurdism overshadowed the story's emotional beats every so often, the thing that made the movie a bit crude. Nevertheless, Raising Arizona is a fantastically maniac non-stop chase movie that's extremely heartfelt and kind at its essence, much like Gale and Evelle.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
clem666Nov 17, 2022
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The movie benefits from a very quick and effective start. The two main characters and their backgrounds are depicted in a few minutes which allows the plot to be on track very easily.

The script is interesting and original, and highlights the fact that these characters evolve and question themselves (like Hi who keeps asking himself if he should continue to be a criminal or not for example). Others characters appear but are sadly way more stereotyped than Hi and Ed. It feels like the Coens did need them in order to make the plot move on. And this plot goes on and on with these terrible 'humourous' lame scenes. So many dull gags. And those gags lasts for something like an eternity. The ending quite interesting as it is an open one.

I almost said that Hi & Ed were likeable. In fact, only Ed is, since Hi (Nicolas Cage) can't help but make faces and spout uninspired lines from the beginning. His character is very one-dimensioned and acts like if he doesn't know if he is an adult or a dumb teenager. Ed's acting is terrific, just the best of the whole movie.

I have to recognize environments and many scenes are beautiful though. Lighting is great. In conclusion: visually beautiful movie with dumb characters (sometimes with sparks of intelligence), bad humour, and mixed ending.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
DawdlingPoetNov 24, 2021
This is a comedy crime film, with themes including redemption, family life and infertility.

First off, I thought it was worth watching to hear Nicolas' Cage's Southern accent and that did not disappoint! ok so it is a relatively dated film,This is a comedy crime film, with themes including redemption, family life and infertility.

First off, I thought it was worth watching to hear Nicolas' Cage's Southern accent and that did not disappoint! ok so it is a relatively dated film, being from 1987 (certainly dated as far as fashion and technology is concerned but then that is, of course, to be expected) but it was quite funny and light hearted from quite early on. The characters are all rather exaggerated in terms of their accents and sometimes their behaviour as well. There is a definite wackiness to the comedy - mostly visual comedy, slapstick in style. I note that this is one of the Coen brothers (Joel and Ethan) first films and its fair to say that their style comes out relatively well. Their films do tend to be rather mad-cap and feature somewhat, shall we say interesting characters.

Throughout the film there was a lot of instrumental music, the sort of music you'd tend to associate with people from the southern US states, i.e. banjo's playing and even some yodelling present. It reminded me somewhat of the US sitcom 'My Name Is Earl'. Its not exactly a greatly sophisticated film but it is an easy watch and it is certainly pleasingly distracting, plus, as I say, quite amusing. An example of one amusing piece of dialogue being when one of Ed's friends calls out 'son, you've got a panty on your head'. I did say its zany!.

Cast wise, as I say Nicolas Cage plays the ex-con H.I. McDunnough, who seems quite a working class, down and out type - not exactly the brightest button in the outfit, if you may. He visually looks quite surprised, bewildered even when Ed asks him if he's decided, or sorted out, certain things which I have little doubt hadn't even entered in to his head that their newly kidnapped son may need. Meanwhile, Holly Hunter plays Ed, H's partner. She is quite a fiery character, strong and opinionated. Other cast members include John Goodman, who plays Gale, one of H's old friends and Frances McDormand, who plays Dot. Trey Wilson plays the famous local businessman, Nathan Arizona senior. I found his character relatively amusing as he comes across as a local sheriff type, who insists on repeating his business patter/slogan 'if you can find cheaper items elsewhere then my name ain't Nathan Arizona!'. Content wise, the film contains no real sex content but one or two references to infertility and menstrual cycles and it features some fairly mild violence in the form of gunshots heard, with some blood shown but not a great deal. In one scene, someone is shown apparently targeting animals, which could upset some. Also some profanities are heard and there are a few robbery related scenes which some young viewers may find potentially slightly frightening. The film carries a 12 rating to reflect this.

Some people may feel it to be a little too heavy on stereotypes and feel it to be a bit condescending perhaps but I wasn't too bothered about it.

Yes I'd recommend this film, as I felt it was quite funny, with a good cast and it generally kept me quite entertained throughout. Its a fairly short film at an hour and thirty five minutes long - you could do a lot worse than to see this.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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7
NickTheCritickNov 2, 2021
This movie is Coen providing fun and entertainment. I love their dark humour and it's enough.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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9
SuperbaDMIkeJun 18, 2022
Nicolas Cage performance in Raising Arizona is good and the Coen brothers progressed after this.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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9
TheBadfellaAug 16, 2023
Growing up, this was one of my favorite movies. On some days, it still is. Definitely one of my favorite screwball comedies of all time. It makes me crack up so hard sometimes and I do think it is one of the finer Coen brothers films, butGrowing up, this was one of my favorite movies. On some days, it still is. Definitely one of my favorite screwball comedies of all time. It makes me crack up so hard sometimes and I do think it is one of the finer Coen brothers films, but maybe I'm just a victim of nostalgia. Nicolas Cage is incredible in this movie. It may seem easy to do what he's doing, but it's harder than it seems. Holly Hunter is great, John Goodman is great, everybody in this movie delivers a great performance, even Frances McDormand, who's barely in it. This is just a really funny movie with a surprisingly sweet ending.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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