Happy, Texas (1999) Movie Information:

Happy, Texas (1999) Directed by: Mark Illsley Happy, Texas (1999) Written by: Mark Illsley, Ed Stone, Phil Reeves Happy, Texas (1999) Cast: Jeremy Northam, Steve Zahn, William Macy, Ally Walker, Illeana Douglas, M.C. Gainey, Ron Perlman, Mo Gaffney, Paul Dooley, Jillian Berard

Happy, Texas (1999) U.S. Distributor: Miramax Happy, Texas (1999) U.K. Distributor: Buena Vista

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Happy, Texas (1999) Synopsis:

Texas is known for larger-than-life things, the least of which is the sleepy town of Happy, where the biggest event is the annual Little Miss Fresh-Squeezed Beauty Pageant. Unfortunately, this year community support is waning. If there is any hope of making it to the state finals, it's time to bring out the big guns: a famous gay couple, who are hired to direct the show. In awe of these "professionals," no one in town notices that the "boys" are actually escapees from a West Texas chain gang, who have unwittingly rolled into town in a stolen RV, stocked mysteriously with a sewing machine, spandex, and sequins. With the Texas Rangers hot on their trail and the local bank just ripe for the picking, it seems the perfect place to bite the bullet, lay low, and get down to the business at handÉputting on a pageant. Happy, Texas is a breezy, romping comedy that is a tribute to director Mark Illsley's fine storytelling and deft flair for pace and character. The ensemble cast shines as the endearing townsfolk who make the zany plot believable, especially William H. Macy as a sheriff with secrets of his own and Steve Zahn as an unlucky con elected to take the young contestants through their paces. With its classic devices of mistaken identities, sexual confusions, and true love prevailing over all, Happy, Texas has all the elements of a Shakespearean comedy, excluding of course the kick-line finale.

Happy, Texas (1999) Movie Review:

Happy, Texas is an irritating small town comedy. The biggest annual event in Happy, Texas is the Little Miss Fresh-Squeezed Beauty Pageant. If there is hope of making it to the state finals this year, it's time to bring some professionals: a famous gay couple is hired to direct the show. In cue of these "professionals", no one in town notices that the "boys" (Northam, Zahn) are escaped convicts. With the Texas marshals hot on their trail, Happy seems like a perfect little place to lay low and get down to business by putting on a pageant.

Happy, Texas is a low budget annoyance. The film is just a stupid comedy that is filled with pretty good actors.

Ed Stone and Phil Reeves wrote Happy, Texas. The script is full of cheesy humor. I only laughed at a few moments in Happy, Texas. The writers also tried to bring in drama and romance into the comedic story of Happy, Texas. It was as if the writers were trying to develop another Raising Arizona, but they failed.

The acting ensemble in Happy, Texas is full of respectable actors. William H. Macy is true and established as the town sheriff that has secrets of his own. Jeremy Northam is genuine and tender as one of the escaped convicts, Harry. Steve Zahn is an explosive nutcase, like always, as the other convict. Zahn's first moment in the film is the best scene in Happy, Texas. In addition to, Ally Walker and Illeana Douglas give admirable supporting performances, as the two convicts' love interests.

Happy, Texas is a film that has done well at film festivals over last spring and summer. Also, critics have hailed the film as a great comedy. I did laugh a few times, but overall I found Happy, Texas pestering and senseless.

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Happy, Texas (1999) review written by: Bailey Henderson