Stir Crazy

R

Released Dec 12, 1980

1 hr. 51 min.

Comedy

List

69%

16 Reviews

Tomatometer

75%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

With a jailbreak offering them their only way out, a despondent duo rack their brains to figure out a foolproof plan. Fortuitously, one of them discovers an unexpected talent as a rodeo rider, and an escape plan begins to take shape at the annual prisoners' rodeo.

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Michael W

This comedy classic was really good. Gene Wilder, Richard Pryor, Georg Stanford Brown, Miguel Angel Suarez, Craig T. Nelson, Barry Corbin, Erland Van Lidth, and the rest of the cast did a fantastic job in this movie. The plot of the movie was entertaining and thrilling. It's about planning a jailbreak but with a comedic plot to it. If you haven't seen this classic movie yet, check it out sometime. It's a definite must see.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Taylor L

Stir Crazy has a plot shaped like a Candy Land board, with its two leads hopping around as blue-collar New Yorkers, cross-country van dwellers, costumed mascots, first-time prisoners, and ultimately rodeo riders. The first half is quick-paced and keeps the gags high, but when the film starts to invest everything it's got into a an escape plan that's heavy on the bronco-busting and bullriding, it loses steam towards the end. Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder were a prolific but unusual duo, because they didn't really provide a lot of contrast to one another that frequently; they were both the 'funny men' and most of the jokes here revolve around exasperated reaction shots of the two of them, going over the top with their physical comedy. They're basically just two guys in the same boat, but that's its own kind of humor, and the first hour or so is a testament to how well the two paired together even if they were basically performing the same role (their entrance into the jail, chests puffed out acting all bad, is still great). When the film transitions away from its own (better) version of The Longest Yard to a pretty dry, somber prison break, that's where the film falls apart. How does a marketing plan that involves mascots advertising your own bank - to customers that are already in the bank - really make sense? (2.5/5)

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

Kit V

For any Gene Wider or Richard prior fan, this one is a must and it is good, very very good entertainment. An above-average prison yarn that is above funny and very original. Prior is at his best and Wilder could not be funnier. It works and the sunshine comes out of the screen right at you. Give it s try, no disappointments to be found here.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/24/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Awesome comedy that will have you laughing out loud.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Enjoyable, of its era and ilk, but about 30mims too long

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

joel h

Stir Crazy feels like a series of half-baked comedy sketches, rather than one cohesive story. The prison rodeo is the only part that is fully developed, so perhaps that was their main idea and they had to throw in filler for the rest of the plot. Regardless, there's a severe lack of laughs in this comedy. I don't know if it just hasn't aged well or if this movie wasn't that funny to begin with, but I'm not a fan.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Sidney Poitier

Director

Gene Wilder

Skip Donahue

Richard Pryor

Harry Monroe

Georg Stanford Brown

Rory Schultebrand

JoBeth Williams

Meredith

Miguelangelo Suarez

Jesus Ramirez

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Stir Crazy: Official Clip - Getting Chow

2:53

Stir Crazy: Official Clip - Down in the Valley

2:43

Stir Crazy: Official Clip - New Cellmate

2:54

Stir Crazy: Official Clip - We're in Prison

2:59

Stir Crazy: Official Clip - Kiss the Baby

2:57

Stir Crazy: Official Clip - Cover Your Jewels

1:37

Stir Crazy: Official Clip - Get the Hell Out of This State

2:24

Stir Crazy: Official Clip - Your Debt to Society

3:23

Stir Crazy: Official Clip - The Secret Word

2:45

Stir Crazy: Official Clip - Do You Get Much?

2:52

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Joseph Gelmis

Newsday

If Wilder and Pryor work for you, you'll enjoy their mellow tomfoolery in Stir Crazy. If they don't, you won't. Without them, the movie would be nothing.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 16, 2022

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

It's strange about Stir Crazy. We go in with big expectations, and we laugh so much at the beginning that we're ready for the movie to launch itself as a hit. And then it all goes flat and we come out disappointed.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 23, 2004

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Unfunny script.

Rated: C+

Jan 19, 2012

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...one can't help but wish that director Sidney Poitier had just let Wilder and Pryor do their thing.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 16, 2007

Full Review

JoBlo

JoBlo's Movie Network

Rated: 8/10

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Lori Hoffman

Atlantic City Weekly

Rated: 3/5

Apr 18, 2006

Full Review

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Synopsis

With a jailbreak offering them their only way out, a despondent duo rack their brains to figure out a foolproof plan. Fortuitously, one of them discovers an unexpected talent as a rodeo rider, and an escape plan begins to take shape at the annual prisoners' rodeo.

Director: Sidney Poitier
Executive Producer: Melville Tucker
Screenwriter: Bruce Jay Friedman
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 12, 1980, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2011

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