Stir Crazy Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two unemployed buddies accidentally become bank robbers, get sent to prison, and then escape by becoming rodeo stars, all while teaching everyone the importance of saying ‘We bad!’

🍿 Stir Crazy: Detailed Plot Synopsis

From New York to Arizona

Skip Donahue, an aspiring playwright, and Harry Monroe, a struggling actor, both lose their jobs in New York City on the same day. Seeing this as an opportunity for a fresh start, they decide to head west to Hollywood. Their journey takes an unexpected turn when they stop in a small Arizona town.

Framed for Robbery

In Arizona, Skip and Harry are hired to dress as woodpeckers and promote a bank. During their lunch break, two actual robbers steal their costumes and rob the bank. Skip and Harry return to find themselves arrested and swiftly convicted for the crime they didn’t commit, sentenced to 125 years in prison.

Life Behind Bars

Life in prison is a shock for the two New Yorkers. They struggle to adapt to the harsh environment and make some unusual friends. Skip and Harry meet Jesus Ramirez, a real bank robber, and Rory Schultebrand, a flamboyant inmate. They also encounter the imposing Grossberger, a silent mass murderer.

The Prison Rodeo

The warden discovers Skip’s hidden talent for riding a mechanical bull and forces him to participate in the prison’s annual rodeo. Jesus and Rory reveal the rodeo is a scam, and they devise an escape plan centered around the event. Skip initially refuses to participate, leading to harsh treatment from the guards.

Planning the Escape

Skip agrees to participate in the rodeo, but only if he can choose his team. He selects Harry, Jesus, Rory, and Grossberger. Using the prison’s metal shop, they secretly create tools for their escape. Meanwhile, Skip finds an unlikely connection with Grossberger, who reveals a surprisingly gentle side.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Skip Donahue (Gene Wilder): An aspiring playwright, Skip is a naive and optimistic New Yorker who gets wrongly convicted and sent to prison.
• Harry Monroe (Richard Pryor): Harry is Skip’s street-smart best friend and a struggling actor who finds himself in prison after a bank robbery mix-up.
• Warden Walter Beatty (Barry Corbin): Beatty is the corrupt warden who exploits Skip’s rodeo talent for his own financial gain.
• Deputy Ward Wilson (Craig T. Nelson): Wilson is a cruel deputy warden who enjoys making the lives of Skip and Harry miserable.
• Meredith (JoBeth Williams): Meredith is a determined lawyer who works to prove Skip and Harry’s innocence and develops a romantic interest in Skip.
• Rory Schultebrand (Georg Stanford Brown): Rory is a flamboyant and openly gay prisoner who becomes friends with Skip and Harry, helping them navigate prison life.
• Grossberger (Erland van Lidth): Grossberger is a physically imposing and feared mass murderer who shows a surprisingly gentle side and assists in the escape plan.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Harry: “I’m gettin’ bad. You better get bad, Jack, ’cause if you ain’t bad, you’re gonna get fucked.” – Harry explains to Skip that they need to adopt a tough persona to survive in prison.
• Skip: “That’s right, that’s right, we bad.” – Skip attempts to act tough with Harry in prison, comically failing to be convincing.
• Harry: “A hundred and twenty five years… Oh God, Oh God… I’ll be a hundred and sixty one when I get out.” – Harry reacts to receiving an extremely long prison sentence for a crime he didn’t commit.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $10,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $101,300,000
• Worldwide Gross: $101,300,000

💥 Stir Crazy Reviews

Personal Review

I remember watching Stir Crazy as a kid and just laughing my head off. Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor were such a perfect duo! The whole woodpecker costume thing, their ‘We bad!’ routine, and the absurdity of the prison rodeo always cracked me up. It’s definitely a classic comedy that I still enjoy watching today, even if some of the jokes are a bit dated. The scene where Grossberger sings is so unexpected and heartwarming!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor”
  • “People who enjoy buddy comedies”
  • “Viewers looking for lighthearted entertainment with some slapstick humor”
  • “Those interested in prison escape movies with a comedic twist”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Some profanity and crude humor”
  • “Suggestive content and partial nudity”
  • “Mild violence”
  • “Stereotypical depictions of gay characters that may be considered offensive by some viewers”

Professional Reviews

• Roger Ebert: “Stir Crazy isn’t high art, but it’s a genuinely funny and well-paced comedy. Wilder and Pryor’s chemistry is undeniable, and they elevate the material with their talent.
• Variety: “Sidney Poitier directs with a sure hand, allowing Wilder and Pryor’s unique comedic styles to shine. The prison setting provides ample opportunity for broad humor, but the film also has moments of genuine heart.
• The New York Times: “While the film’s premise is undeniably funny, the execution is somewhat uneven. Pryor and Wilder have great moments, but the plot meanders and the ending feels rushed.

Audience Reactions

The ‘We Bad!’ scene is legendary and instantly quotable.: Viewers consistently praise the incredible chemistry between Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor, making it a comedic highlight.

Grossberger singing ‘Birmingham Jail’ is a surprising and touching moment.: Many found Erland van Lidth’s performance surprisingly poignant, adding depth to the film’s humor.

Overall Consensus: A beloved comedy classic known for the exceptional chemistry between Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor, though some find the plot uneven.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Prior to filming, Arizona State Prison Warden Robert Raines had wanted to organize a rodeo for 2 years. Columbia Pictures rented the prison, providing the budget for the rodeo grounds in exchange.”
• “Richard Pryor initially refused to wear the woodpecker suit, but eventually did for promotional materials.”

🖥️ How to Watch Stir Crazy?

As of October 2024, ‘Stir Crazy’ is available for rent or purchase on various platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Check your preferred streaming service for availability in your region. Physical copies (DVD and Blu-ray) can be purchased online through retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Stir Crazy, you might like these similar films:

• Silver Streak (1976): Another Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor comedy that combines humor with suspense and action.
• The Longest Yard (1974): Features a group of prisoners using sports as a means of redemption and escape.
• The Blues Brothers (1980): A comedy centered around two friends on a mission, involving music and outlandish situations.
• Let’s Go to Prison (2006): A comedy about a man who intentionally commits a crime to get sent to the same prison as the judge who sentenced him.

🛒 Stir Crazy Related Products

• Stir Crazy [Blu-ray]: Own the classic comedy on Blu-ray with restored footage and behind-the-scenes features.
• Gene Wilder: Some Kind of Wonderful: A Biography: Discover the life and career of the comedic genius behind Skip Donahue.
• Richard Pryor: Live in Concert [DVD]: Experience the raw comedic brilliance of Richard Pryor in his iconic stand-up special.
• Stir Crazy ‘We Bad!’ T-Shirt: Show your love for the movie with this hilarious ‘We Bad!’ t-shirt, a nod to the film’s most iconic scene.

🎧 Soundtrack

Stir Crazy features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Crazy” – performed by Gene Wilder

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Gene Wilder on first working with Richard Pryor

Ever wonder how Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor’s iconic partnership started? This short clip reveals Gene’s initial thoughts on working with Pryor – you won’t believe what he says!

Erland Van Lidth De Jeude – Down In The Valley

Did you know the singing voice in ‘Down in the Valley’ wasn’t actually the actor’s? This video dives into the fascinating reason behind the change – it’s a wild story involving a strike and a clever workaround!

✨ Rate