SnoopyStyle
Wayne Wayne Wayne Jr. (Steve Zahn) is a car thief and Harry Sawyer (Jeremy Northam) is a con man. They and murderer Bob Allen Maslow escape from the prison van when it crashes. The duo are found by Sheriff Chappy Dent (William H. Macy) from Happy, Texas. They are mistaken for gay couple Steven and David who are suppose to put on a pageant for little girls. Joe McClintock (Ally Walker) runs the small local bank. She pays the boys %500 up front and $500 when the pageant is done. Harry convinces Wayne to lay low and put on a show. He also plans to rob the bank safe. Doreen Schaefer (Illeana Douglas) needs the guys to revive the town's pageant chances.Jeremy Northam is not a particularly great comedy partner. He's not able to generate any laughs and the material isn't that funny. I'm glad that they didn't go for the easy flamboyant gay jokes but it needs to find other ways to be funny. Steve Zahn has his moments but he's flailing a lot. This boils down to the writing by Ed Stone, Mark Illsley and Phil Reeves. None of them are known as writers and they don't deliver the jokes.
wendellfountain
Once again, William Macy proved that he has incredible talent, and that does not include the wonderful performances of the other actors. The writing was outstanding. This was a fresh and creative plot. This is the type of movie I thoroughly enjoy. The children in the film also did a fine job. It has a lot of twists and turns which add greatly to the movie. Happy, Texas is a rather fast-paced comedy which holds your attention. Even though as film-making goes, this was a low-budget production, that did not in any way detract from the professionalism and filming. All of the actors truly excelled. I highly recommend this film.
reservoir_cats_1989
Normally I would not be a fan of movies that are romantic comedies about "gays" (hidden heterosexuals), and definitely not ones taking place in Texas.Well, this movie is an exception. The plot has as much influence on this rating, as does playing their characters by William H. Macy, Ron Perlman, Steve Zahn, and Jeremy Northam.Recall watching another "gay comedy" movie, "Birdcage"; situation was much different, yet no less entertaining.I think "Happy, Texas" is at the same, highest quality movie level as "Birdcage" is, making you laugh, making you think, making you feel. Personally I am a heterosexual, but open-minded one, and I can put myself in shoes of most male-played characters and try to imagine what they feel. I deeply admire William H. Macy and Ron Perlman ("The Hellboy") for their willingness to extend their acting portfolio."There is an officer inside. What are we gonna do?" "Admire him, son. He's one big d*cked cop"Not the kind of action you would expect in Texas. It's much more hilarious than watching ex-prez George Bush Jr fall down from a Segway. It takes a "special" talent to fall down from a Segway. It takes a genius to make a movie like this one.
gcd70
Cleverly conceived comedy that never makes enough of its potential humour. Mark Illsner's film finds two rather inept criminals on the lamb and posing as beauty pageant hosts.Jeremy Northam and Steve Zahn do well together, with Zahn getting the best opportunities to make us laugh. Even better in support is the talented William H. Macy as the local sheriff of Happy; and Ron Perlman surprises as a very convincing Texas Marshall.Having said all this, the film lets itself down with its lack of humour.Sunday, January 2, 2000 - Hoyts Chadstone
AD
