Raising Arizona

Raising Arizona was an instant classic and remains so to this day. Raising Arizona is the story of an ex con and his retired policewoman wife who, after learning of their own infertility, decide to kidnap one of the Arizona family's famous quintuplets. ... Full Review

Combining two major trends of the '80s -- having babies and taking hostages -- "Raising Arizona" follows this childless couple's deliriously funny drive to join the baby boomlet. But crucial to their success here is their affection for their dull-witted protagonists played with endearing deadpan by Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter. ... Full Review

others will love it for its clever mix of slapstick action, surreal fantasy, and homespun family values.....But it was the outrageously farcical Raising Arizona that announced the Coens' darkly comedic audacity to the world..... ... Full Review

The supporting cast is equally impressive, particularly John Goodman and William Forsythe as a couple of escaped convicts who pay a visit to their old friend Cage.....RAISING ARIZONA is populated with excellent performances, especially from its two leads..... ... Full Review

The picture is best when it slows down and opens up--the car chases are good, yes.... ... Full Review

One of the film's many delights is Hi's unexpectedly flowery dime-novel narration. H.I. "Hi" McDonnough (Nicholas Cage) is a philosophical but slightly dim career criminal who has been arrested so often that he gets to know "Ed," short for Edwina (Holly Hunter), the officer who takes his mug shots. ... Full Review

Since the basic idea of the movie is a good one and there are talented people in the cast, what we have here is a film shot down by its own forced and mannered style. That's one of the problems with " Raising Arizona . ... Full Review

One of the film's many delights is Hi's unexpectedly flowery dime-novel narration. H.I. "Hi" McDonnough ( Nicholas Cage ) is a philosophical but slightly dim career criminal who has been arrested so often that he gets to know "Ed," short for Edwina ( Holly Hunter ), the officer who takes his mug shots. ... Full Review

RAISING ARIZONA is the Coen brothers' most consistently funny film. The film is a treat for the ears and the eyes, a one-of-a-kind sensation from a marvelous pair of filmmakers. ... Full Review

Basically it's just a really fun, entertaining film. Never receiving half the attention of certain other young American Independents who concentrate on guns more than laughs, and certainly not a tenth of the attention it deserves, Raising Arizona is faultless the way Bringing Up Baby is faultless. ... Full Review