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From Amazon.co.uk
Three prisoners on a chain gang find themselves on the loose in Happy, Texas when their prison van overturns to avoid hitting an armadillo. Two of them--Jeremy Northam and Steve Zahn--steal an RV that turns out to belong to two junior-beauty-pageant promoters on their way to organise 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 and Ally Walker. The cast is uniformly entertaining, but it's William H Macy who really steals the show as the town sheriff with a secret of his own. Happy, Texas was an audience favourite at the Sundance Film Festival but didn't do as well in wide release, probably because viewers expected a non-stop farce. But though the movie is a comedy, and a very funny one, its humour 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, Amazon.com
Product Description
Harry Sawyer (Jeremy Northam) and Wayne Wayne Wayne Jr (Steve Zahn) are fugitives on the run, making their escape in a stolen Winnebago. When they are stopped by the police in the Texan outpost of Happy, they presume the game is up, but they are in fact welcomed to the town with open arms. It transpires that they have been mistaken for the vehicle's original owners: a gay couple who are meant to be organising the 'Little Miss Fresh-Squeezed Pre-Teen' pageant. Sensing the chance to escape arrest and earn a fast buck, the devious pair start settling into their new roles....
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
Here's a small gem that you might enjoy. Happy, Texas is a relatively - by no means entirely- 'clean' comedy about two very small time cons on the run from a Texas chain gang. No South Park/Farrelly Brothers tastlessness, though, and unlike many contemporary comedies, thoughtfully written, edited and directed. Even the music cues work.
The plot builds slowly out of situations we have seen many times before, going all the way back to thirties screwball farce, but gets those situations ( -mistaken identities, badly matched couples, etc-) just about right for our time and place. ( Maybe the director knows more about film than just 70's B-movies on video? ) Not scathing satire, but with enough memorable moments and sympathetic, sometimes touching performances, to hold up to several viewings.
The plot builds slowly out of situations we have seen many times before, going all the way back to thirties screwball farce, but gets those situations ( -mistaken identities, badly matched couples, etc-) just about right for our time and place. ( Maybe the director knows more about film than just 70's B-movies on video? ) Not scathing satire, but with enough memorable moments and sympathetic, sometimes touching performances, to hold up to several viewings.
Steve Zahn plays the talented Wayne Wayne Wayne Jr., and the rest of the cast includes national treasure William H. Macy as Sheriff Chappy Dent, Ron Perlman as Texas Marshal Nalhober, Jeremy Northam in a semi-sleazy change from his usual leading-man roles, and Ally Walker and Ileana Douglas as the young women growing a bit bored by small town life.
Rated TP: May not be suitable for Texans or Pageant contestants.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Sofia
Format:DVD
Harry and Wayne are two cons who just escaped from prison. We've heard that story before, right? Well not quite. In this comedy Harry Sawyer(Jeremy Northam) and Wayne Wayne Wayne Jr.(Steve Zahn) while on the run steal the camper of a gay couple. When they arrive in Happy, Texas, everybody believes them to be the two gay beauty-pageant producers that will turn a couple of little girls into beauty-pageant contestants. At first eager to leave, Harry and Wayne soon find out that there is more to this little town. Left without money they agree to stay until they get the chance to rob the bank. During their stay though Harry falls in love with the town banker (Ally Walker) who sees him as her new "girlfriend" and it also turns out that the sheriff (William H. Macy) develops a romantic interest in him. Meanwhile Wayne tries to turn the girls into little beauties by using some rather unorthodox and extremely funny methods. But when somebody else robs the bank Harry finds himself not only protecting his banker "girlfriend" but also gets to do the right thing for once. And all ends well? Well, not exactly but this you have to see for yourself!
Zahn and Macy deliver a fabulous performance and they are some really funny things going on. This is by no means a master piece but it has it's moments and I can only recommend this film.
Zahn and Macy deliver a fabulous performance and they are some really funny things going on. This is by no means a master piece but it has it's moments and I can only recommend this film.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Hardly no one has heard of this film but they should have because it's one of the best comedies i've even seen. It has romance, pathos, William H Macy (always a good sign) and flaming batons!! The story goes as follows: two escaped cons arrive in the town of Happy to be mistaken for two gay pagent organisers. As not to blow their cover, our (not-gay) cons have to organise a pagent for the little girls of Happy, while coping with the romantic complications caused by the big girls and boys!! Watch this and you most certainly will be happy and want to spread it around!
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Happy happy joy joy
I love this film so much so that I bought a 2nd copy to watch after I'd loaned it out. The characters are quirky, the town is way out there and the premise is just pure nonsense... Read more
Published 13 days ago by TinaT
5.0 out of 5 stars
Farce with class
In many ways a good old-fashioned 'screwball' comedy, maybe in the vein of Some Like It Hot. But here two escaped cons go gay, firstly to lay low, then to cash in on their... Read more
Published 12 months ago by rebtanner
5.0 out of 5 stars
sweet, funny film
I really like this film; it is funny, sweet and romantic. Steve Zahn and Jeremy Northam (with a gentle American accent) play escaped convicts, but you know that they're good guys... Read more
Published 14 months ago by J. B. Bowley
1.0 out of 5 stars
Utter rubbish
Read reviews about this film, supposed to be comedy, cant understand why people can say that, never raised a smile, ive watched a few turkeys in my time, this was the pits, had to... Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2010 by Mark Twain.
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a lovely, lovely film
I first rented Happy Texas on VHS from my local shop after reading a magazine article on "The Best Straight to Video Films You've Never Seen". Read more
Published on 20 Jun 2010 by chingford_girl
5.0 out of 5 stars
an excelant comedy!
I actually had never heard of this film, but came across it by chance. Ifound that the start of the film wasn't exactly exciting, but once you getpast the first part, things start... Read more
Published on 21 April 2004 by Shazzy
4.0 out of 5 stars
happy and funny texas
i saw this movie on BBC 1 and i must it was pretty funny and the story isso cramp but there some great moments, overall not pure genius but a goodmovie to watch to waste those... Read more
Published on 20 April 2004 by "red_skywalker"
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