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
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
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
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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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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