Zero Effect (1998)
Average Rating: 6.6/10
Reviews Counted: 47
Fresh: 30 | Rotten: 17
A promising debut for writer/director Jake Kasdan, Zero Effect overcomes its flaws with its off-kilter humor and likeable leads.
Average Rating: 6.1/10
Critic Reviews: 11
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 6
A promising debut for writer/director Jake Kasdan, Zero Effect overcomes its flaws with its off-kilter humor and likeable leads.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 7,547
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Movie Info
Jake Kasdan made his feature film directorial debut with this oblique thriller about eccentric private detective Daryl Zero (Bill Pullman) and his sardonic front man partner Steve Arlo (Ben Stiller). After the two are hired by blackmail victim Gregory Stark (Ryan O'Neal), Zero sets up a sting operation and soon focuses on his suspect, Gloria Sullivan (Kim Dickens), a woman he met at a health club. Thinking Zero is an accountant, she asks him to look over her tax return. Clues form a trail to
Jun 1, 1997 Wide
Jul 7, 1998
Warner Home Video
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Cast
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Bill Pullman
Daryl Zero -
Ben Stiller
Steve Arlo -
Ryan O'Neal
Gregory Stark -
Kim Dickens
Gloria Sullivan -
Angela Featherstone
Jess -
Hugh Ross
Bill -
Sara Devincentis
Daisy -
Matt O'Toole
Kragan Vincent
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Zero Effect Trailer & Photos
All Critics (63) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (30) | Rotten (17) | DVD (11)
There's an idiosyncratic talent at work here with the potential to blossom into bigger, better and more accomplished films.
Top CriticKasdan's is a very promising debut, its own dearth of feeling offset by able writing, engaging playing and a sure sense of pace.
This is one of those movies that creeps up on you, insidiously gathering power. By the end, I was surprised how much I was involved.
A strong debut, and a very fun movie.
Daryl Zero is a movie character for the ages.
A hidden gem.
A charmingly off-center little film with intriguing plot twists and engaging characters.
Awesome mystery with quirky characters and great twists.
An inspired and off-kilter crime caper that wears its infectious quirkiness like a badge of honor
Not only is it hilarious, but it's a damn good detective story that has fun toying around with all the tired old conventions of the detective story
Audience Reviews for Zero Effect
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- Daryl Zero: A person can't escape their nature.
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- Daryl Zero: Passion is the enemy of precision.
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- Gloria Sullivan: What doesn't kill you, defines you.
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- Steve Arlo: There aren't evil guys and good guys. There are just a bunch of guys.
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- Daryl Zero: To assimilate... See how all the ordinary people around you are behaving and try to behave like one of them.
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- Steve Arlo: Are you telling me you can speak six languages and fly a jet liner, but you don't know how to file a tax return? It's never come up?
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