Movies / Happy, Texas (1999)

5/10

Runtime: 98 min

Genres: Comedy Crime Romance

Languages: English

Countries: USA


Three prisoners on a chain gang find themselves on the loose when their prison van overturns to avoid hitting an armadillo. Two of them--Jeremy Northam (An Ideal Husband, The Winslow Boy) and Steve Zahn (Out of Sight, That Thing You Do!)--steal an RV that turns out to belong to two junior-beauty-pageant promoters on their way to organize a pageant in Happy, Texas. When Northam and Zahn find themselves stuck in Happy, their only option is to follow through with their masquerade and put on the pageant. Unfortunately, the promoters are known to be gay, which complicates matters when both men find themselves attracted to local women--Illeana Douglas (Grace of My Heart, Cape Fear) and Ally Walker (While You Were Sleeping, TV's Profiler). The cast is uniformly entertaining, but it's William H. Macy (Fargo, Pleasantville) who really steals the show as the town sheriff with a secret of his own. Happy, Texas was an audience favorite at the Sundance Film Festival but didn't do as well in wide release, probably because viewers expected a nonstop farce. But though the movie is a comedy, and a very funny one, its humor springs more from nuances of character than broad wackiness. The situations are a little predictable, but the performers--especially Macy--give it zest and genuine feeling. --Bret Fetzer


Directors (1) Credit
Mark Illsley ...
Writers (3) Credit
Ed Stone (writer) &
Mark Illsley (writer) &
Phil Reeves (writer)
Composers (1) Credit
Peter Harris ...
Editors (1) Credit
Norman Buckley ...
Cinematographers (1) Credit
Bruce Douglas Johnson ...
Actors (28) Credit
Ally Walker Josephine 'Joe' McClintock the Banker
Carley Fink Little Light Girl (as Carly Fink)
Cassie Silva Another Happy Girl
David Shackelford Varnel the Tire Collector
Derek Montgomery Bully Boy
Ed Stone Alton
Guy J. Graves Tow truck driver (uncredited)
Illeana Douglas Doreen Schaefer
Jeremy Northam Harry Sawyer, aka Steven 'Steve'
Jillian Berard Madison 'Maddie'
Keo Woolford Cabana Boy Kimo (uncredited)
Kim Story Guard
Kiva Lawrence Pageant Judge
Krista Lewis Bank Teller (uncredited)
Mark Illsley Guard on Horse with Shotgun (uncredited)
M.C. Gainey Robert 'Bob' Allen Maslow
Melissa Arnold Another Happy Girl
Michael Hitchcock Steven, Pagent Professional
Mo Gaffney Mrs. Bromley
Paul Dooley The Judge
Rance Howard Ely the Tractor Driver
Ron Perlman Marshal Nalhober
Scarlett Pomers Jency (Flaming Batons)
Steve Zahn Wayne Wayne Wayne Jr., aka David
Tiffany Takara Another Happy Girl
Tim Bagley David, Pagent Professional
Tim Cowgill Local Cowboy (uncredited)
William H. Macy Sheriff Chappy Dent