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Happy, Texas

  • 19991999
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
10K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
William H. Macy, Jeremy Northam, Illeana Douglas, Ally Walker, and Steve Zahn in Happy, Texas (1999)
Trailer
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
21 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Crime
  • Romance

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... Read all3 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.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.

IMDb RATING
6.3/10
10K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Mark Illsley
  • Writers
    • Ed Stone
    • Mark Illsley
    • Phil Reeves
  • Stars
    • Jeremy Northam
    • Steve Zahn
    • William H. Macy
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mark Illsley
  • Writers
    • Ed Stone
    • Mark Illsley
    • Phil Reeves
  • Stars
    • Jeremy Northam
    • Steve Zahn
    • William H. Macy
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 124User reviews
    • 71Critic reviews
    • 62Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 6 nominations

    Videos1

    Happy, Texas
    Trailer 0:31
    Happy, Texas

    Photos21

    Steve Zahn in Happy, Texas (1999)
    (l to r) Mark Illsley, William H. Macy and Bobby C. King.
    William H. Macy, Jeremy Northam, Illeana Douglas, Ally Walker, and Steve Zahn in Happy, Texas (1999)
    William H. Macy, Illeana Douglas, Ally Walker, and Steve Zahn in Happy, Texas (1999)
    William H. Macy, Jeremy Northam, Illeana Douglas, Ally Walker, and Steve Zahn in Happy, Texas (1999)
    William H. Macy and Ron Perlman in Happy, Texas (1999)
    William H. Macy, Jeremy Northam, Illeana Douglas, Ally Walker, and Steve Zahn in Happy, Texas (1999)
    William H. Macy, Jeremy Northam, Illeana Douglas, Ally Walker, and Steve Zahn in Happy, Texas (1999)
    William H. Macy and Ron Perlman in Happy, Texas (1999)
    Steve Zahn in Happy, Texas (1999)
    Ally Walker and M.C. Gainey in Happy, Texas (1999)
    William H. Macy and M.C. Gainey in Happy, Texas (1999)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jeremy Northam
    Jeremy Northam
    • Harryas Harry
    Steve Zahn
    Steve Zahn
    • Wayneas Wayne
    William H. Macy
    William H. Macy
    • Chappyas Chappy
    Ally Walker
    Ally Walker
    • Joeas Joe
    Illeana Douglas
    Illeana Douglas
    • Ms. Schaeferas Ms. Schaefer
    M.C. Gainey
    M.C. Gainey
    • Bob Maslowas Bob Maslow
    Ron Perlman
    Ron Perlman
    • Nalhoberas Nalhober
    Mo Gaffney
    Mo Gaffney
    • Mrs. Bromleyas Mrs. Bromley
    Paul Dooley
    Paul Dooley
    • The Judgeas The Judge
    Jillian Berard
    • Madisonas Madison
    Scarlett Pomers
    Scarlett Pomers
    • Jencyas Jency
    Melissa Arnold
    • Other Happy Girlas Other Happy Girl
    Cassie Silva
    Cassie Silva
    • Other Happy Girlas Other Happy Girl
    Tiffany Takara
    • Other Happy Girlas Other Happy Girl
    Tim Bagley
    Tim Bagley
    • Davidas David
    Michael Hitchcock
    Michael Hitchcock
    • Stevenas Steven
    Ed Stone
    • Altonas Alton
    Rance Howard
    Rance Howard
    • Elyas Ely
    • Director
      • Mark Illsley
    • Writers
      • Ed Stone
      • Mark Illsley
      • Phil Reeves
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —John Sacksteder <jsackste@bellsouth.net>
    • gay
    • beauty pageant
    • escaped convict
    • texas
    • small town
    • 62 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Escaped convicts disguised as beauty pageant experts? This could get ugly.
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Romance
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for language, sexual content and some violence
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      With the exception of a few scenes, the film was shot entirely on location in Piru, California.
    • Goofs
      Happy is said to be in southwestern Texas near El Paso. In fact, the real Happy is in the northern part of the state between Amarillo and Lubbock.
    • Quotes

      Sheriff Chappy Dent: Give me the meanest steak you got! Rare, and I mean rare! Just de-horn it, wipe its butt and send it in.

    • Crazy credits
      Thanks to the people in Happy, Texas... even though we shot entirely on location in Piru, California. Sorry.
    • Alternate versions
      The version shown on Comedy Central tones down some of the profanity and violence.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Three Kings/Drive Me Crazy/Happy, Texas/Guinevere/Mystery, Alaska (1999)
    • 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 reviews124

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Small Texas Town Lives Up To Its Name
    Happy Texas is one of the greatest comedies you've probably never heard of. Shot in just 29 days on a shoestring budget, this film's acting, directing, script and comedic timing are so clever and incisive that it has attracted an almost cult following, especially among Steve Zahn fans.

    There are plots within plots that all pull together in the end to make a perfect film. Starting with escaped convicts (Wayne Wayne Wayne played by Steve Zahn and Harry Sawyer played by Jeremy Northam) who have to hide and steal an RV belonging to two gay pageant designers, to discovering the gay lifestyle in a small Texas community (Happy), to finding love in the arms of a doe-eyed banker (Ally Walker ...sorry for the cliché, but she really does have doe-eyes), this movie hits on all aspects of life and puts a hilarious spin on them.

    The greatest things about this film were Steve Zahn's acting while trying to teach pre-teen girls how to dance, and William H. Macy's stunning performance as Happy's town sheriff who comes out of the closet.

    Always sharp, incredibly funny, superbly paced, this movie's small budget belies its excellent acting and directing.

    Few films will tickle your funny bone as perfectly as HAPPY Texas. Watch it. Buy it. Live it!
    helpful•24
    2
    • fwomp
    • Dec 28, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 3, 1999 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Місто щастя, штат Техас
    • Filming locations
      • Piru, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Marked Entertainment
      • Miramax
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,955,933
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $72,056
      • Oct 3, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,955,933
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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