Happy, Texas (1999)
Genre: Comedies
Starring: Steve Zahn, Jeremy Northam, William H. Macy, Ally Walker, Illeana Douglas
Screenwriter: Mark Illsley, Phil Reeves, Ed Stone
Producer: Mark Illsley, Rick Montgomery, Ed Stone
Composer: Peter Harris
Buy It On DVD
Reviews
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.
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.
...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...
A charming fish-out-of-water romantic comedy, the modestly budgeted Happy, Texas more than makes up in heart what it lacks in splash.
It's a breath of fresh air to review a film that, having received an award from the Sundance Film Festival, actually deserves the accolade.
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by: me in texas 4/7/03


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