Raising Arizona

Raising Arizona is a 1987 American comedy film written, produced, and directed by the Coen brothers (Joel and Ethan Coen). The film stars Nicolas Cage as H.I. McDunnough, a charming ex-con, and Holly Hunter as Edwina 'Ed' McDonald, a dedicated ex-cop. The unlikely couple, who fall in love despite their vastly different backgrounds, face a challenge when they decide to help themselves to one of another family's quintuplets. The movie begins with H.I. and Ed, who met at a police lineup in which H.I. was a suspect. Although he was eventually released due to a lack of evidence, H.I. and Ed formed a connection and eventually eloped to get married. The couple soon discovers that Ed is not capable of bearing children, which prompts them to explore alternative options. Their conversation takes a humorous turn when they discuss the pros and cons of either buying, finding, or creating a child. H.I. has a peculiar idea: stealing a baby from one of the 23 babies born to a group of quintuplets in the nearby town of Tucson, and subsequently adopting or finding another way to raise the child. Although it seems like an absurd and unorthodox plan, Ed initially supports H.I.'s idea, despite its unacceptability by the American social norms. They decide to target the baby of Nathan and Ramona Gladstone III (William Lyle Richardson and Twin sister Margaret Richardson), a wealthy family with quintuplets. They successfully steal one of the quints, a boy they name 'Hello' (who is later referred to as 'Baby Diamond'). However, their attempt at raising Hello as their own becomes increasingly complicated. The Gladstones are wealthy, and thus have a reputation in the community, so the couple keeps Hello hidden in the trunk of their car. As time passes, H.I. and Ed are forced to navigate their lives while secretly raising the young baby. The introduction of Dot (T.J. Lowther) – a 5-year old boy that they also take – creates further complications in their life, however, adding another challenge to the couple. The couple tries to find a balance between raising a child, running away from the Gladstones' family, and maintaining a somewhat normal life. H.I.'s peculiar habits and lack of parenting skills cause a series of comedic moments throughout the movie, often driven by his love for the babies and his desire to learn how to be a 'father'. Ed's ex-cop training and knowledge on handling emergencies are invaluable to the couple as they struggle to care for Hello and eventually Dot, but even she faces difficulties in balancing her life with the increasing responsibilities of raising a child. However, as they navigate their new life, the tension between them begins to rise due to their differences. Ed, once a responsible and diligent person, becomes exasperated by the chaos brought upon by the couple's decision, leading to disagreements on child-rearing and their overall way of life. H.I., on the other hand, remains optimistic, focusing on the joy of fatherhood, despite his own inability to provide a suitable home environment. On their part, the Gladstones begin an investigation into the disappearance of their baby. They are joined by a bizarre and eccentric Private Detective – Nathan Jr's – and a dog. Despite all the mishaps and complications, the McDunnoughs eventually face the law in the final act of the movie. As Detective Baby (aka Dog) – a dog gifted to the couple by the Gladstones – tracks down the family and H.I. gets accidentally caught while trying to return the baby in the first place, Ed decides she can no longer keep up this unorthodox family life. Ed abandons the family temporarily when H.I. is about to be caught by the Gladstones, leaving Hello with a stranger and eventually getting arrested for a crime she did not commit. As Ed is about to be executed by a firing-squad, she decides to take responsibility for her actions, and ultimately gets sent to prison, leaving behind a broken and chaotic H.I. The final act is a sombre reflection on the consequences of the couple's decisions. Despite the numerous comedic moments throughout the movie, Raising Arizona is ultimately a poignant exploration of love, family, and the lengths to which people will go in pursuit of what they desire.