Watch Stir Crazy
- R
- 1980
- 1 hr 51 min
-
6.7 (31,066)
Stir Crazy, released in 1980, is an American comedy film directed by Sidney Poitier and starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. The film is about two friends, Skip Donahue and Harry Monroe, living in New York City who find themselves wrongfully accused of a bank robbery and are sentenced to 125 years in prison. Skip Donahue (Wilder) is a writer and Harry Monroe (Pryor) works as a cook in a diner. They are both struggling to make ends meet but are determined to make it big in their respective fields. One day, they decide to quit their jobs and move to Hollywood to pursue their dreams. On the way, they stop in a small town in Arizona and attend a local rodeo.
While at the rodeo, they accidentally witness a bank robbery and are mistaken for the robbers by the police. Despite their protests of innocence, they are convicted of the crime and sentenced to serve their time in an Arizona prison. The two friends are completely out of their element in the rough and tumble prison environment.
Stir Crazy is primarily a buddy comedy with Wilder and Pryor displaying their trademark comic chemistry. The film takes a lighthearted approach to the prison experience, using it as a backdrop for the comedic antics of the lead characters. There are a number of slapstick gags, physical comedy routines, and witty one-liners that keep the audience entertained throughout the film.
One memorable scene involves Skip and Harry performing a song and dance routine in front of the other inmates. Their performance is a hilarious blend of tap dancing, singing, and acrobatics that shows off the talents of the actors. Another scene involves them being forced to participate in a prison rodeo where they are tasked with riding a bucking bronco. The horses prove to be too much for them, resulting in a series of comic mishaps.
Georg Stanford Brown plays Rory Schultebrand, an experienced inmate who takes Skip and Harry under his wing. He teaches them the ins and outs of prison life and helps them adapt to their new surroundings. Brown, who also directed some of the film's scenes, brings a strong presence to his role as the wise old prisoner.
The film was well received upon its release and is still considered a classic comedy today. It was particularly successful at the box office, grossing over $101 million worldwide. The success of Stir Crazy led to future collaborations between Wilder and Pryor, including Silver Streak and See No Evil, Hear No Evil.
In conclusion, Stir Crazy is a classic comedy that showcases the talents of Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. The film takes a lighthearted approach to the prison experience, using it as a backdrop for a series of hilarious gags and skits. The chemistry between the lead actors is the film's greatest strength, and their performances are a testament to their talents as comedians.
Stir Crazy is a 1980 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 51 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 56.