# Anybody like "The Hudsucker Proxy"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 7, 2002, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091 "2002-12-07T05:08:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091/21 "2002-12-07T23:23:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zebra \* > **Is she a Muncie Girl? Did Jennifer Jason Leigh character come from a small town and forgot her small town values or is she a city girl won over by his pure heart.** I’d definitely vote for the latter. I haven’t seen it in a while (must dig out my DVD), but she seemed to be (very badly) feigning a Muncie background in order to get closer to Tim Robbins’s character. ---
**Author:** ![Skerri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Skerri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skerri)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091/22 "2002-12-07T23:29:18Z")
She was faking it to get the story on him. Is that a _blue letter_???!? :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091/23 "2002-12-07T23:38:22Z")
Loved it. It seems to polarise people’s opinon though. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091/24 "2002-12-08T01:15:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Skerri \* > **She was faking it to get the story on him.** Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091/25 "2002-12-09T16:22:10Z")
I didn’t really care for it. The only reason I’d watch it again is one of my friends was an extra and can be seen in the background of the big party scene. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091/26 "2002-12-09T16:37:21Z")
After seeing this movie – everytime my friends and I would say something and not be understood, we would add “… you know, for kids!” Highly underrated movie. But if you check the thread a few months back asking people to rate the CB movies, this one usually came in near the bottom. Not in my list though! ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091/27 "2002-12-09T16:42:30Z")
I like the coen Brothers and I’ve tried to watch it, but Jennifer Jason Leigh was just utterly grating on me. I liked everything about it until she started talking and then I just couldn’t stand it. I ended up having to leave the room so my wife could enjoy it in peace. I keep saying I need to try it again, but I just can’t bear the thought of having to listen to JJL again. ---
**Author:** ![Lao\_Tsu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lao\_Tsu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lao_Tsu)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091/28 "2002-12-09T16:48:05Z")
I also love this maybe, it was my favorite CB before “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”. I agree most people just don’t get it. Picking up the DVD for 5 bucks is a major score. ---
**Author:** ![Siemsi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b19c9b/32.png) [@Siemsi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siemsi)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091/29 "2002-12-09T17:10:00Z")
Great movie. ---
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091/30 "2002-12-09T17:24:35Z")
I think its an adorable movie. Not what I’d consider deeply moving, or powerful, or anything - just cute, cuddly entertainment. I like it. I didn’t know _anyone_ disliked it. Fools. Love, Kn\*ckers ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091/31 "2002-12-09T18:47:53Z")
Just another vote here for _The Hudsucker Proxy_ as a great movie, although not the Coens’ best. Tim Robbins is great. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091/32 "2002-12-09T18:53:55Z")
Wonderful movie. Made me a Jennifer Jason Leigh fan, and a Coen bros. fan. and… er… where’d you get the DVD for $5? ---
**Author:** ![TigoleBitties](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cab0a1/32.png) [@TigoleBitties](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TigoleBitties)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091/33 "2002-12-09T19:39:43Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by RexDart \* > \*\* I never cared much for Raising Arizona, so I’d slip that one into the bottom slot._\* **RELEASE THE HOUNDS!!!** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091/34 "2002-12-09T20:06:34Z")
Maybe he’s wise… But he don’t _look_ wise… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2002, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091/35 "2002-12-09T21:54:38Z")
I just want to reiterate… that I’ve always liked this movie. I’ve never understood why people seem to hate it so much. Perhaps, they are expecting another Raising Arizona or something… but, I thought it was great. (I never liked Raising Arizona that much… that would be my bottom Coen Bros. movie.) ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091/36 "2002-12-10T03:20:39Z")
Screeme, I don’t think people hate it, exactly, they just rank it below other Coen brothers movies. That still places it well above anything by, say, Renny Harlin. I’ll stake my Pulitzer on it! ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091/37 "2002-12-10T05:19:28Z")
I can’t say I hate this movie but I find it more interesting than entertaining. For me, it’s almost like a game of “Spot the film reference.” For example, while the plot of “Hudsucker” is basically a homage to Capra’s stories about idealism triumphing over cynicism, there are numerous other types of movies mixed in including screwball comedy (i.e., the romance between Jennifer Jason Leigh’s and Tim Robbins’ characters), Billy Wilder’s films (e.g., the scenes with Steve Buscemi in the bar draw heavily upon _The Apartment_), and even Jerry Lewis movies. In Capra’s movies, Jimmy Stewart’s or Gary Cooper’s characters would’ve never been as much of bumbling shmuck as Robbins (who gets his foot caught in a burning trash can while he’s in Paul Newman’s office) is here. Also, the plot about putting an apparent incompetent in a position of high authority is more Lewis than Capra as are the scenes of Durning and Robbins falling from high story windows (which are very similar to the opening sequence of Lewis’ _The Patsy_). As a result, it seemed as though the Coen brothers were so bent trying to show how much they knew about various movies that they forgot to put in a heart or, at least, an original core. Overall, it was a clever pastiche. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091/38 "2002-12-10T06:14:08Z")
Terrific film. I love the way it echos all those older films. When I first saw it I hated JJL’s voice, but on subsequent viewings I have been able to treat it as one of the little “in jokes”. It is certainly one of the Coen’s lesser works, but what does that mean. IMDB ratings for the movies Joel and Ethen have directed: (8.20) - Fargo (1996) (7.90) - O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) (7.90) - Man Who Wasn’t There, The (2001) (7.90) - Miller’s Crossing (1990) (7.80) - Big Lebowski, The (1998) (7.80) - Blood Simple (1984) (7.60) - Raising Arizona (1987) (7.40) - Barton Fink (1991) (7.40) - Hudsucker Proxy, The (1994) What you need for the top 250 - 7.6 Of the current top 10 only Harry Potter rates over 7.0 Spielberg for instance has directed 11 movies that score 7.40+ and 14 that score less [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-like-the-hudsucker-proxy/141091.md?page=1)