The Coen brothers (Ethan and Joel) are two of the most creative and most demented people working in hollywood today. For anyone who doesn't know they are a writing and directing team that is responsible for a series of mostly hilarious movies with the occasional horror tinged movie thrown in. Their most popular movie with younger viewers is probably The Big Lebowski with the iconic character Dave the dude. But it was Raising Arizona that got it all started. Actually, Blood Simple pre-dates Raising Arizona but that is a serious movie with fewer of the well known Coen brothers quirks than Raising Arizona has so I stand by my characterization.
Synopsis (spoiler free)
Before the opening credits ever run in the movie we are treated to the meeting and courtship of H.I. McDunnough and his future wife Edwina - the fact that the courtship takes place as H.I. is having his mugshots taken by Edwina is classic Coen brothers. They are filled with hope for the future until they find out that Edwina cannot have children. Coincidentally, the wife of local businessman Nathan Arizona has quints and is quoted in the newspaper as saying that she basically too many. H.I. and Ed decide to even things out a bit for both families and that is when the action really begins. Believe it or not all of this information and exposition doesn't spoil the movie - so much happens after they decide to get one of the babies it would be nearly impossible to summarize here.
This movie is quite simply hilarious. Funny lines, funny images, funny accents, funny characters, memorable lines .... all are part of a Coen brothers movie in general and Raising Arizona in particular. I'm not usually a big Nicolas Cage fan but he is genuinely hilarious in this movie as is Holly Hunter. This is John Goodman's first appearance as a Coen brother's staple. Academy award winner Frances McDormand (Mrs. Joel Coen) is also present here as the quirkiest and most hilarious supporting character. I wholeheartedly recommend this for the first time or the fifteenth - it just seems to get funnier every time I see it.
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