H.I. McDunnough (Nicolas Cage) fell in love with Ed (Holly Hunter) the first time he laid eyes on her, and each subsequent time she took his mugshot after that. Despite being on opposite sides of the law, H.I. and Ed realise that their future happiness depends on each other. It's only after H.I. gets paroled into wedded bliss that the couple learns they can't have children, right around the time a wealthy local furniture salesman is blessed with quintuplets, so naturally H.I. starts veering off the straight and narrow in the name of love. Raising Arizona is the Coen Brothers (The Big Lebowski, Fargo) at their sweetest and most freewheeling, a kidnapping caper with a heart of gold.

Welcome to sunny Arizona, reimagined of course by the Coen's as a paradise for colourful characters filled with half-baked criminal schemes. This follow up to their breakthough hit (the much darker Blood Simple) is overflowing with cartoon energy and charm, anchored by performances from Hunter and Cage that draw surprising moments of poignance in all the mayhem. This was Hunter's first starring role and she is a force of nature as the determined mother-to-be Ed, while Cage as the hapless H.I. goes full gangly Wile. E Coyote. The affection the Coens have for these misfits and their plight shines through and Raising Arizona delivers a satisfying tale of love conquering most.