Happy, Texas

Theatrical Release Date: 1999 10 01 (USA)

UPC: 717951004833

Studio: Miramax

MPAA Rating: PG13   Contains:[Violence, Adult Language, Adult Humor, Sexual Situations]

Summary: Happy, Texas is a fish-out-of-water comedy about two con men who escape from prison, then pose as gay lovers to hide out in a small Texas town. Mistaken for consultants to the Little Miss Fresh Squeezed Beauty Pageant, Harry (Jeremy Northam) and Wayne (Steve Zahn) go along with the ruse so they can stake out the local bank, owned by Josephine "Joe" McClintock (Ally Walker). The story kicks into high gear as Harry starts falling in love with Joe but cannot let on about his feelings. Also complicating matters is that gay Sheriff Dent (William H. Macy) has the hots for Harry, and Harry must pretend he's interested to keep the cops off his back. Meanwhile, Wayne is getting in touch with his feminine side as he tries his best to teach dance steps and flaming baton twirling to the little girls; he's also lusting after the girls' teacher, Ms. Schaefer (Ileana Douglas). Everything leads up to the big beauty pageant, where the cops are finally on Harry and Wayne's tail. First-time director Mark Illsley received wide media attention for this commercial piece, which sold to Miramax after a very public and intense bidding war. Steve Zahn's performance won him a special acting award at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival, where the film premiered in dramatic competition . ~ Arthur Borman, Rovi

Category: Comedy

Awards: Special Jury Award (Dramatic) – Sundance Film Festival Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion – Independent Spirit Awards Best Supporting Actor – Independent Spirit Awards

Features: Commentary track with Mark Illsley and Ed Stone
Music videos
Deleted scenes
Featurette
Interview with Mark Illsley and Ed Stone
French-language track
Spanish subtitles
2.0 Dolby Surround
Widescreen [1.85:1] enhanced for 16x9 televisions

Happy, Texas

Format: Digital Video Disc (DVD)

Release Date: 04/11/2000

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, 2 PCM stereo

Runtime: 98 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French

Subtitles: English,Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side #1 --
0. Chapter Selection
1. Opening Credits/The Escape [6:29]
2. Vigilante Justice? [6:29]
3. Midgets? Tailors? Pageant Professionals! [:06]
4. "Joe...Josephine McLintock" [2:06]
5. The Girls Are Waiting [2:46]
6. Please Don't Go, Steven [2:44]
7. Safe And Secure [2:03]
8. The Fax [3:39]
9. Romancing The Robber [2:56]
10. Wanted [1:33]
11. Chainsaw And Tornadoes [2:23]
12. In Need Of A Girlfriend [1:20]
13. More Than Emotions On Fire [2:43]
14. The Key To Love [3:22]
15. In Love, But Not With Hunting [3:06]
16. Trying Hard To Impress [4:20]
17. A Proper Date [3:13]
18. All Work And No Play [2:10]
19. "Youre Such A Surprise" [2:38]
20. "They All Qualified!" [2:46]
21. Lucky Rabbit's Foot [1:30]
22. A Change Of Heart [2:50]
23. Comfronting Joe [2:39]
24. Guess Who's Back [1:11]
25. Planning The Robbery [3:31]
26. Steven Breaks It Off With Chappy [2:19]
27. One Last Prayer [1:07]
28. Preparing For The Robbery [3:26]
29. 3:45, Time For The Robbery [2:08]
30. The Chase [4:31]
31. Caught And Handcuffed [5:16]
32. A Happy, Texas Ending [2:52]
33. End Credits [3:20]

Buzz McClain

Shakespeare may have perfected the mistaken-identity plot, but even the Bard never contemplated the hysterical ripple that infests this honestly funny and seemingly fresh mistaken-sex adventure. First-time director Mark Illsley turns in a bright, lighthearted romantic comedy that doesn't rely on cheap laughs -- at least not too many, given that rubber-faced Steve Zahn is at his brain-dead finest . There's also enough of a dark turn in the plot when the "real" bad guy arrives to provide dramatic impetus for the final third, assuring the film never runs out of steam. Jeremy Northam, an Englishman doing a credible American accent, makes a fine, understated lead and shares some genuinely touching scenes with the always wonderful William H. Macy as the closeted sheriff who is so smitten with tall, dark stranger Northam that he asks him to go dancing. Ileana Douglas and Zahn make another compatible couple, but watch out for charming Ally Walker, who holds her own as Northam's "straight" love interest; why in the world she doesn't get more work in Hollywood is anybody's guess. ~ Buzz McClain, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Mo Gaffney  Actor 
Mark Illsley  Actor 
M.C. Gainey  Actor 
Peter Harris  Composer (Music Score) 
Mark Illsley  Director 
Mark Illsley  Producer 
Mark Illsley  Screenwriter 
Phil Reeves  Screenwriter 
Ed Stone  Screenwriter 
Jeremy Northam  Actor 
Steve Zahn  Actor 
William H. Macy  Actor 
Ally Walker  Actor 
Illeana Douglas  Actor 
Ron Perlman  Actor 
Tim Bagley  Actor 
Michael Hitchcock  Actor 
Paul Dooley  Actor 

Country: USA