Raising Arizona (1987) Review

 

Raising Arizona (1987)

Raising Arizona follows H.I., a criminal, and Ed, a police officer, as they kidnap a child because they cannot have a kid of their own. What ensues is mayhem, heart, and a happily ever after.

It’s been a little over a decade since I’ve seen this movie. And wow, is this such a heartwarming and fun movie. Much like the Coen Brothers other films, this film hits the mark in every way imaginable. It’s hilarious, kooky, and such a weird movie, but it’s one you can’t help but love. Having them unable to have a child and of all people to kidnap from, it happens to be the richest man in the area, it's hilarious.  Especially when we get into the bits of them escaping the bounty hunter, which all feels so wild, but is so excitingly dumb.

Long before he developed his weird, trademark style of acting, Nic Cage made this, in the same style that we’d eventually come to see from him. His narration all throughout, tied with Holly Hunter as Ed’s perfecting matching, makes for such an interesting and different movie. The rest cast is terrific, the writing is perfect, and the soundtrack of essentially just one yodeling song, it all just...fits in this imaginary version of Arizona.

What most considered the Coen Brothers as selling out to their usual films, this just sets the bar for everything moving forward as it was only their second film. Everything is so natural, yet, so unnatural, which makes it so damn fun to watch (even if for me, it’s at 2 am on a Monday) To this day, it’s still one of Nicholas Cage’s best and most heartwarming films. Highly recommend it!

9/10