Happy, Texas

1999 "Escaped convicts disguised as beauty pageant experts? This could get ugly."
6.3| 1h38m| NA| en| More Info
Released: 03 December 1999 Released
Producted By: Miramax
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

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.

Genre

Comedy, Crime

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Happy, Texas (1999) is now streaming with subscription on Paramount+

Director

Mark Illsley

Production Companies

Miramax

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Happy, Texas Audience Reviews

Alicia I love this movie so much
Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good
CommentsXp Best movie ever!
Beanbioca As Good As It Gets
caa821 I saw this film recently, for the second time, with a friend who hadn't seen it before.It has a solid cast, with roles all well-played, and all who are just a bit shy of being on Hollywood's "A" list - but not because of any lacking talent or appeal.There are a lot of previous comments here, so I would just add that it is a thoroughly enjoyable film, all the characters likable (even the couple of "bad" guys, in their own way).You are completely aware of the basic ending of the story from the outset, and can pretty well guess most of the exact details as it moves along. However, this isn't meant to be suspenseful, and, as a quiet, modestly-budgeted presentation, it outdoes most of the "A-list," super-budget extravaganzas by a mile.
raypdaley182 take 2 complete unknowns and cast them as convicts on the run from the police, one is a car thief, one is a fraudster. Take Ron Perlman (City Of Lost Children, Alien Resurrection) playing a US Marshall chasing them and the third convict on the run who is a murderer.then take William Macy playing a small town sheriff who turns out to be a closet homosexual.the 2 lesser criminals steal a camper van that belongs to 2 gay pageant organizers who they are mistaken for and the "jokes" start and promptly finish there.William Macy plays the small town cop very well, trying to hide his homosexuality from the bigots. It's basically a story of mistaken identity, people hiding their true selves and people hiding being facades.The outcome of the local kids winning the show is pretty predictable. That they don't rob the bank, likewise predictable.the film is just a bit of a harmless fun, it fills the time.
Tim Keane (tkeane-1) It seemed to me that the writers here had a decent enough idea but couldn't make it into a film with a proper narrative running through it. It's been a long time since I've seen so many montages in one film. I don't have a problem with it but the purpose of the montage is to summarise a lenght of time passing by. In this film the technique was used solely for comic effect...and it worked. The problem was that when it then came to the actual passing of time there was a lack of comic value and an inability to make it any way realistic. I know it's comedy and it's slapstick to a degree and it doesn't need to be realistic but, unless the comic elements are in place properly the lack of realism can't be ignored.William H. Macy steals the show and really really shows the other actors up. He's got some great lines and acts the slapstick comic role really well. Steve Zahn is pretty good too. Certainly not his worst role and shines in his montages. Jeremy Northam was a bad choice for for the role of Harry / Steve. I haven't seen him in that much stuff so I wouldn't like to say he's a bad actor but, I don't think he can do comedy. It smelt like cheese every time he spoke.If you're in a silly mood and up for a laugh this is worth watching. There is much better comedy out there though. This doesn't come close to anything from the Ben Stiller / Wes Anderson / Wilson Brothers / Will Ferrel stables.
fwomp Happy Texas is one of the greatest comedies you've probably never heard of. Shot in just 29 days on a shoestring budget, this film's acting, directing, script and comedic timing are so clever and incisive that it has attracted an almost cult following, especially among Steve Zahn fans.There are plots within plots that all pull together in the end to make a perfect film. Starting with escaped convicts (Wayne Wayne Wayne played by Steve Zahn and Harry Sawyer played by Jeremy Northam) who have to hide and steal an RV belonging to two gay pageant designers, to discovering the gay lifestyle in a small Texas community (Happy), to finding love in the arms of a doe-eyed banker (Ally Walker ...sorry for the cliché, but she really does have doe-eyes), this movie hits on all aspects of life and puts a hilarious spin on them.The greatest things about this film were Steve Zahn's acting while trying to teach pre-teen girls how to dance, and William H. Macy's stunning performance as Happy's town sheriff who comes out of the closet.Always sharp, incredibly funny, superbly paced, this movie's small budget belies its excellent acting and directing.Few films will tickle your funny bone as perfectly as HAPPY Texas. Watch it. Buy it. Live it!