Sunday, December 23, 2012

Raising Arizona - 7 stars out of 10

Raising Arizona - 7 stars out of 10

The Coen brothers once again strike comic genius with "Raising Arizona."  This character-driven script about a couple who kidnaps a baby from a set of quintuplets because they cannot have a baby of their own is clever and absurd (in a good way).  This film was made before whatever catastrophic event turned Nicolas Cage into a terrible actor and he brings great personality to this character.  The highlight for me is Holly Hunter as Ed, sweet, insecure, and mixed up with the wrong crowd.  The ludicrous dialogue and situational irony drive the film from start to finish without ever losing steam, starting with a montage of Hi hitting on Ed each time he's arrested, continuing with every sequence involving the bounty hunter, and ending with the fate of Glen.  The cast includes hilarious supporting performances by John Goodman and Frances McDormand.  You have to be in the right frame of mind for "Raising Arizona" to enjoy its brand of humor - just don't expect a single serious moment (until its surprisingly heart-warming ending).

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