• Reviews
    • Watch This
    • VODepths
  • Humor
  • On the Marquee
  • Looking Back
    • Classic Corner
    • Anniversary
  • Film Fests
Crooked Marquee
  • Reviews
    • Watch This
    • VODepths
  • Humor
  • On the Marquee
  • Looking Back
    • Classic Corner
    • Anniversary
  • Film Fests
Home
Reviews

REVIEW: Arizona Good at First But Then Disappointing, Like Arizona

Sep 6th, 2018 Eric D. Snider
REVIEW: Arizona Good at First But Then Disappointing, Like Arizona

Arizona is a dark horror/comedy set after the housing collapse in 2009, an era that ought to have inspired more dark horror/comedies than it has. It stars Rosemarie DeWitt as a divorced mom in an Arizona suburb who’s about to lose her house while still working for the sleazy realtor (Seth Rogen) who sold it to her. A disgruntled homeowner played by Danny McBride confronts the boss, accidentally kills him, then takes DeWitt hostage because she witnessed it. Things escalate from there, as they do.

It starts out well, if you’re into dark comedies where violent things happen, which I very much am. McBride isn’t a terrifying psycho but a doofy suburban dad who’s immediately in over his head with a woman who’s smart and resourceful. He’s got DeWitt tied up in his kitchen when his ex-wife walks in, and she’s played by Kaitlin Olson — Dee on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. If you know that show, you know how funny (and mean) she can be when responding to a man’s frustrating stupidity.

But the movie, directed by first-timer Jonathan Watson and written by Luke Del Tredici (TV’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine), soon stops being the funny version of this story and just becomes the regular version, where McBride is a psycho with no compunction about killing, and that gets old fast. And it’s a shame. DeWitt is perfect, the underlying premise of a man driven to desperation by the housing collapse is fine material, and a mostly abandoned housing tract where all the homes look the same and there’s nothing for miles around is a great horror setting. And David Alan Grier as the local sheriff! But alas, it all falls apart. JUST LIKE THE HOUSING MARKET.

Grade: C+

1 hr., 25 min.; not rated but definitely in R territory

Join our mailing list! Follow us on Twitter! Write for us!
 
Facebook Twitter Google+
Eric D. Snider

Eric D. Snider

Eric D. Snider has been a film critic since 1999, first for newspapers (when those were a thing) and then for the internet. He was born and raised in Southern California, lived in Utah in his 20s, then Portland, now Utah again. He is glad to meet you, probably.

Subscribe to our Newsletter:
* indicates required
Trending
Jan 26th 9:00 AM
Looking Back

Mock Heroics: Richard Lester in the ’70s

Mar 4th 1:38 PM
Humor

At Netflix, We Want Everyone to Have Access to the Cinema of Netflix

Nov 28th 5:00 AM
Humor

Three-Named Actors of the ’90s: A Survey

May 10th 12:00 PM
Movies

REVIEW: Game Adaptation Pokemon: Detective Pikachu

Dec 7th 9:31 PM
Movies

Review: Beyond the Law

Jan 9th 11:10 AM
Movies

Review: 1917

Jan 21st 7:53 PM
Reviews

Review: Get Gone

Dec 3rd 5:00 AM
Humor

What Happened Next: A Christmas Story (1983)

Mar 26th 12:10 PM
Looking Back

Can You Ever Just Be Whelmed? 10 Things I Hate About You at 20

May 10th 3:09 PM
Movies

REVIEW: Con-Artist Farce The Hustle

blank
cmpopcorn_white3.svg
  • Company
    • About Us
    • Contact
    • Writers Guidelines
  • Members
    • Login
    • SignUp
    • Forums
telephone icon [email protected]
envelope icon [email protected]
© 2014-2020 Crooked™ Publishing
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
blankblank