Average Rating: 6.7/10
Reviews Counted: 51
Fresh: 42 | Rotten: 9
A smart, light-hearted romantic comedy, Happy, Texas uses its well-written script and exceptional cast to prove there's still life left in the fish-out-of-water caper genre.
Average Rating: 7.3/10
Critic Reviews: 12
Fresh: 12 | Rotten: 0
A smart, light-hearted romantic comedy, Happy, Texas uses its well-written script and exceptional cast to prove there's still life left in the fish-out-of-water caper genre.
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Average Rating: 3/5
User Ratings: 7,503
Happy, Texas is a fish-out-of-water comedy about two con men who escape from prison, then pose as gay lovers to hide out in a small Texas town. Mistaken for consultants to the Little Miss Fresh Squeezed Beauty Pageant, Harry (Jeremy Northam) and Wayne (Steve Zahn) go along with the ruse so they can stake out the local bank, owned by Josephine "Joe" McClintock (Ally Walker). The story kicks into high gear as Harry starts falling in love with Joe but cannot let on about his feelings. Also
Oct 1, 1999 Wide
Oct 2, 2001
Miramax Films
All Critics (60) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (43) | Rotten (9) | DVD (8)
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.
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.
Anybody with a soft spot for fakers, who either identifies with them or just admires their chutzpah, is going to get a kick out of Happy, Texas.
Happy, Texas is a good, winning combination of imitation and inventiveness.
Almost everybody in this not-so-funny comedy is giddy and cuddlesome with a gosh-oh-gee enthusiasm that is at first engaging but quickly becomes a sign of a desperation to be liked.
Every bit as cheery as the title implies--but good will can only go so far.
first-time filmmaker Illsley displays a surprisingly firm yet gentle hand with both his script and his enormously appealing cast.
Odd couple buddy picture with Rom-Com elements that work. Zhan gives one of his most hysterical performances to date. Lighthearted, watchable, and fun.
The set-up is so strong that it's impressive to see it progress so effortlessly.
Very, very, tears-rolling-down-your-face funny.
...although it reverts to slapstick for its set-piece chase finale, for most of its length Mark Illsley's debut film offers an unexpectedly gentle, even sentimental comedy of sexual identities...
Bank-robbery/beauty-pageant caper is sweet, silly fun.
My husband and I consider this one of our all time favorites. Not only did it have one of my favorite actors, William H. Macy, but the whole subject matter was hysterical. Funny, funny movie.
September 14, 2010Super Reviewer
It was okay but definitely not hilarious...I think maybe I laughed once. I think the movie had a lot of potential but it fell flat.
November 16, 2009Super Reviewer
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