Expectations can be everything, so going into Arizona blind was an advantage that I had. If you’re reading this review, you won’t have the same luxury. First-time director, Jonathan Watson, easily exceeds reasonable expectations. Whenever Danny McBride is involved, audiences can never know for sure in which direction his works will take you. This title will likely not be found in most theaters but that doesn’t mean you should write it off a lesser quality offering that should be skipped. As you will read, my thoughts are quite the opposite in this case.
Once the housing bubble burst in the late 2000s, many people were affected in such a way that irrational behavior was running rampant. Years of being smart, safe and conservative with your money and suddenly, BOOM everything you’ve worked for is spiraling down the drain. What do you have left to show for it? You’re upside down on your mortgage (meaning that you owe more on your home than it’s worth) and there’s no relief in sight. Who’s to blame? What do you to make things right? How far will you go?
Cassie (Rosemarie DeWitt) works in a low-brow real estate office for a boss who could care less about his clients’ well-being, he’s all about making that sell because money is all that matters in his world. When the economy took a turn for the turn for the worse, his once happy clients were knocking on the door because the bank was knocking on theirs. When Sonny (Danny McBride) strolls into the office one day looking for answers, or at least a semi-consoling ear, he receives anything but that. In a fit of rage, Sonny loses his temper and commits a terrible act that he cannot take back.
For Cassie, it’s all about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. She witnesses the act of desperation and frustration that Sonny just committed, making her a liability. Not seeing himself as a monster, Sonny wants seeks to temporarily restrain Cassie so that he can explain his actions while helping her see things through his eyes. What follows is a crazy story of mass murder, kidnapping and all sorts of other crimes as this darkly toned comedy thriller plays itself out in a newly developed Arizona community.
Arizona is one of those movies that one could easily dismiss as a silly simple comedy based on its cast. I mean when you see names like Danny McBride, Kaitlin Olson, Luke Wilson and David Alan Grier lumped together in a movie, you assume that you’ll be watching a silly comedy. You’d be wrong. This is technically classified as a comedy thriller but the humor is born from ignorance that’s so blatant that it can only be classified as funny. It’s the dark behavior of the film’s main star, Danny McBride, that gives this such a ominous feel. The thrilling part takes care of itself and progresses quite naturally throughout.
The overall tone is a weird mixture of comedy and thrilling moments which will have audiences wondering if they SHOULD laugh. And that’s the beauty of Arizona. For first time director Jonathan Watson, this effort is easily considered a win. Watson is unafraid to take risks and has no qualms about pulling the carpet right from under viewers’ feet. Once this one gets going, it becomes harder and harder to guess which direction it’ll go next. This is exactly the shot in the arm that a smaller movie needs to make the masses take notice.
Arizona is smartly written, well acted and directed in a manner that allows for the maximum enjoyment. Definitely not a title that will be on most people’s radar, it could be a sleeper that’ll remain in the minds of those who make the effort to see it. RLJ Entertainment has a sneaky sleeper hit on their hands. I just wish more resources (aka money) were put into the distribution and advertising of this twisted tale as it is in the top 10% of all of the movies released this month.
Whether it’s On Demand or in theaters (such as AMC Star Gratiot 15 and AMC Star Southfield 20 in my local market), Arizona is worth your time and money.
