Steve Zahn shines in Illsley's feature debut, elevating this eccentric small-town comedy two notches above the level of writing. Using the fish out of water format, this Sundance premiere begins well but then declines rapidly.
Happy, Texas
Escaped convicts disguised as beauty pageant experts? This could get ugly.
1999 · 1h 38m · PG-13
Comedy, Crime
Directed by
Mark Illsley
Overview
Two escaped convicts roll into the village of Happy, Texas, where they're mistaken for a gay couple who work as beauty pageant consultants. They go along with it to duck the police, but the local sheriff has a secret of his own.
Director and cast
- Mark Illsley Director
- Steve Zahn as Wayne Wayne Wayne Jr.
- William H. Macy as Sheriff Chappy Dent
- Jeremy Northam as Harry Sawyer
- Ally Walker as Josephine 'Joe' McClintock
- Ron Perlman as Marshal Nalhober
- Illeana Douglas as Doreen Schaefer
- M.C. Gainey as Bob Maslow
- Mo Gaffney as Mrs. Bromley
- Paul Dooley as The Judge
- Jillian Berard Cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
A charming fish-out-of-water romantic comedy, the modestly budgeted Happy, Texas more than makes up in heart what it lacks in splash.
Happy, Texas is a hoot, a hilarious comedy that's smart and caring, yet sexy and ingenious enough that it just might stir up some of that elusive Full Monty-style box-office appeal.
This is one of those comedies that doesn't pound us on the head with the obvious, but simply lets us share vast amusement.
...a wellspring of sweet, effervescent humor that reminds us that comedies don't have to be all about fart jokes and bathroom humor.
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