Happy, Texas (1999)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Happy Texas is one of the best movies I've ever seen. It has laughs, suspense, kindness and intelligence. The acting and inter-personal dynamics are excellent. Besides the stellar performances by everyone in the cast, I think special mention should go to Ally Walker as Josephine McClintock. The scene at her house, where she and Jeremy Northam's character are painting props, and all of the scenes between her and him, are extremely well-done. Harry Sawyer's reserved, rather civilized demeanor somehow works well with Wayne Wayne Jr.'s outspokenness and physical aggressiveness. The re-introduction of Bob Maslow was done at a perfect time, and that is an unexpected twist in the plot. I appreciated many things about the ending scene at the prison performance by the Happy Girls: Doreen and Wayne still wanted each other. Josephine and Harry still had a chance at a (delayed) reunion. Harry could be out in under two years. The girls' performance of What's So Great About Love (complete with the spastic moves Wayne taught them) was excellent. I love how the movie was filmed in big, bright colors with lots of outdoor scenes: None of the morose, ashen tones that are prevalent today. The soundtrack is great. Some of the best scenes are between Northam and Walker: Jo: "I haven't had a girlfriend in a really long time..."Harry: "Neither have I." (him having been in prison)Jo: "That's funny." (thinking he is referring to his gayness).and...Jo (yelling from tow truck): "What are you doing?"Harry: "I'm trying to save you!"Jo: Well stop! I'm trying to save you! If i don't kill you, first...Steve Zahn should have won an Oscar for his performance. "Remember to keep the beat!"I have watched Happy, Texas many times and it always "brings em' back alive".

Wayne Wayne Wayne Jr. (Steve Zahn) is a car thief and Harry Sawyer (Jeremy Northam) is a con man. They and murderer Bob Allen Maslow escape from the prison van when it crashes. The duo are found by Sheriff Chappy Dent (William H. Macy) from Happy, Texas. They are mistaken for gay couple Steven and David who are suppose to put on a pageant for little girls. Joe McClintock (Ally Walker) runs the small local bank. She pays the boys %500 up front and $500 when the pageant is done. Harry convinces Wayne to lay low and put on a show. He also plans to rob the bank safe. Doreen Schaefer (Illeana Douglas) needs the guys to revive the town's pageant chances.Jeremy Northam is not a particularly great comedy partner. He's not able to generate any laughs and the material isn't that funny. I'm glad that they didn't go for the easy flamboyant gay jokes but it needs to find other ways to be funny. Steve Zahn has his moments but he's flailing a lot. This boils down to the writing by Ed Stone, Mark Illsley and Phil Reeves. None of them are known as writers and they don't deliver the jokes.

WOW! This film is well written, performed, executed..you name it, it's worth the time to watch. Steve Zahn has always been a favorite actor of mine. Obviously, he can do any role or any dialect, portray any character with credibility, and bring a genuine smile to the spectator's face. "Happy, Texas" is an adorable film, and what a great plot. As usual, William H. Macy is the consummate actor as well. Well, actually, everyone was good in this film. The movie made me laugh and really gave me an entertaining couple of hours. We need more movies like this! One thing I did find strange was that Steve Zahn, who played "David" in the town, was able to sew. Now how strange is that? Who cares? It was a marvelously fun film, and I want to see more of Steve Zahn in the future!!!

Happy, Texas, is a small whose motto could be "Tolerance". How else justify the hiring of a gay couple pageant organizers and not have the local population bash this odd duo that is going to transform the little girls competing for the title of Litte Miss Squeezed? One would only expect that Happy, Texas is a bright spot in the Southwest where gays are welcomed with open arms! A pair of convicts, Wayne Wayne Wayne and Harry Sawyer, are lucky to be in an highway accident where the van that is transporting them overturns. The duo steal the RV, they happen to see in a shopping area. It turns out the vehicle belong to the real gay men who go around the country preparing little girls for this important event in their lives, and they decide not to report it to the police.As it turns out, Happy, Texas, welcomes them with open arms, or so it seems. The local sheriff, Chappy Dent, of all people, is a man struggling with his own sexual identity. Wayne is put in charge of the training of the girls for the pageant. Harry sees an angle in the local bank that shows a lack of security; it's the perfect target for a robbery.When all it's said and done, "Happy, Texas" misses opportunities, when the pageant takes second place to a car chase. Director Mark Illsley, who contributed to the screen play, probably had great ideas going for the film, which ultimately fizzled out. Best thing in the film is Steve Zahn's Wayne, a man who can't carry a tune. Jeremy Northam, an actor more at home playing dramatic roles, makes a surprising Harry, which shows his range. The wonderful William H. Macy appears as the mixed up sheriff Chappy Dent. Mr. Macy and Mr. Northam are hilarious doing the two-step at the local gay bar. Others in the film, Paul Dooley, Mo Gaffney, Ileana Douglas, and Ally Walker.