Happy, Texas (1999)

3 prisoners escape. 2 end up in Happy, Texas, where they're mistaken for a gay couple expected there to help with the small girls beauty pageant. As the 2 are paid $1000, they decide to stay until the heat is gone.

Director:

Mark Illsley

Writers:

Ed Stone, Mark Illsley

Stars:

Jeremy Northam, Steve Zahn, William H. Macy

6 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeremy Northam	...	Harry
Steve Zahn	...	Wayne
William H. Macy	...	Chappy
Ally Walker	...	Joe
Illeana Douglas	...	Ms. Schaefer
M.C. Gainey	...	Bob Maslow
Ron Perlman	...	Nalhober
Mo Gaffney	...	Mrs. Bromley
Paul Dooley	...	The Judge
Jillian Berard	...	Madison
Scarlett Pomers	...	Jency
Melissa Arnold	...	Other Happy Girl
Cassie Silva	...	Other Happy Girl
Tiffany Takara	...	Other Happy Girl
Tim Bagley	...	David

Storyline

Two escaped convicts arrive in the town of Happy, Texas, where they are mistaken for a gay couple who is to host the town's Little Miss Fresh Squeezed beauty pageant. Enjoying the celebrity and using their skill as con-men, the two adopt their persona to take on the task. Of course, as the two are heterosexual, their interest in the involved ladies intensifies. Ally Walker is a banker, who is distrustful of men and has given up on love. Illeana Douglas plays the dowdy, badly dressed teacher.

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Plot Keywords:

gay | beauty pageant | escaped convict | texas | small town | 

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Taglines:

Escaped convicts disguised as beauty pageant experts? This could get ugly.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language, sexual content and some violence

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 December 1999 (UK)

Also Known As:

Happy Texas - Iloiset veikot

Filming Locations:

Lancaster, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,700,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$72,056, 3 October 1999, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,943,649, 19 December 1999

Company Credits

Production Co:

Marked Entertainment, Miramax

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

With the exception of a few scenes, the film was shot entirely on location in Piru, California.

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Goofs

During the chase, Jo calls "Steven" "David."

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Quotes

Harry Sawyer: So we're gay. How hard can that be?
Wayne Wayne Wayne Jr.: It might not be hard for you, Rock Hudson, but I have got heterosex...
Harry Sawyer: What?
Wayne Wayne Wayne Jr.: 'Not gay' written all over me.

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Crazy Credits

Wayne Artman is listed as Wayne Wayne Wayne Artman Sr., spoofing Steve Zahn's character name.

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Alternate Versions

The version shown on Comedy Central tones down some of the profanity and violence.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Three Kings/Drive Me Crazy/Happy, Texas/Guinevere/Mystery, Alaska (1999)

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Soundtracks

Passin' Thru
Performed by Randy Scruggs with Joan Osborne
Written by Johnny Cash and Randy Scruggs
Published by Mighty World Music LLC
(A division of Mclachlan-Scruggs International (BMI)) /
Song of Cash Inc. (Adm. by Bug) (ASCAP))
Randy Scruggs appears courtesy of Reprise Records
Joan Osborne appears courtesy of Blue Gorilla / The Island Def Jam Music Group

User Reviews

Incredibly silly, but cute and funny nonetheless.

HAPPY, TEXAS tells us the story of two escaped inmates, Wayne Wayne Wayne Jr. (Steve Zahn) and Harry Sawyer (Jeremy Northam). They arrive in a town called Happy in Texas and proceed to steal the RV of a young gay couple, and are later forced to assume their identities as beauty pageant experts. Wayne becomes known as David, and Harry becomes known as Steven. "Steven" works on trying to avoid his feelings for the banker Joe (Ally Walker) and "pity-dating" the town sheriff Chappy (William H. Macy) while planning to rob the city bank, while "David" works on trying to teach a group of young girls to successfully win a beauty pageant.

I expected this to be a pretty dumb film, but I was surprised in that it wasn't. It was silly, of course, but not dumb. The plotline is ridiculous in theory but is carried out quite well. In fact, I found this movie to be rather sweet and charming, and very funny in parts. Not hysterical, but entertaining.

The thing I was most surprised about while viewing HAPPY, TEXAS was how good the acting was in parts. Every actor was good in both their comedic and dramatic moments. Steve Zahn was hilarious as Wayne, while Jeremy Northam was good in a mostly dramatic role. William H. Macy was excellent as he always is, as was Ally Walker.

All in all, HAPPY, TEXAS is a pretty average comedy. There are some good humorous moments, but they come somewhat few and far between. The pacing is a little too slow and it gets a little boring at times, but it's a cute and fairly original movie. Better than most of its kind and pretty entertaining. 7/10.