Happy, Texas - A Movie Review

Be happy with who you are.

Happy, Texas is a 1999 film about two men who escape prison and seek refuge in Happy, Texas. The townsfolk mistake them for a gay couple. Harry and Wayne play along with the ruse and get paid to help with a beauty pageant for girls.

Movie recommendations are always a blast, especially when they have your favorite actor. This is a film that was ahead of its time. I decided to walk into Happy, Texas blind, and I was met with a comical, yet serious film that proudly demonstrates themes of sexuality.

Jeremy Northam and Steve Zahn make a fantastic comedic team as Harry and Wayne. The pair constantly fights over their situation. I had never heard of Northam before watching this film. He plays Harry with subtle charm and intelligence, making a compelling transformation.

Any movie with Steve Zahn, I am in for. He’s another actor who is versatile in any role he is given. Zahn’s bug-eyed expressions and over-the-top reactions are just the start of his funny personality. He has a funny subplot where he’s an assistant teacher to a young girl's beauty pageant. Unsure of how to act correctly, he makes the best of it.

This is my favorite William H. Macy role. He plays Sheriff Chappy Dent, a gay man who is unashamed of his sexuality. Macy’s portrayal is honest. In a case of mistaken communication, Dent falls for Harry, who plays along with the charade to avoid suspicion.

Happy, Texas is a hidden gem, especially for the LGBTQ+ audience. This storyline is treated respectfully in the 1990s. Harry joins Dent on a date and accepts a dance with him. It’s a positive representation of the LGBTQ+ community in mainstream 90s cinema.

When staying in a small town, you meet the usual eccentric people. Harry and Wayne fall in love with different women, but due to their charade, they walk around the situation carefully. Ally Walker (Joe) and Illeana Douglas (Doreen) are great in their roles. More credits include M.C. Gainey, Ron Perlman, Mo Gaffney, and Paul Dooley.

Mark Illsley’s direction evokes the charm of a small town in Texas with vibrant cinematography and a playful, sincere tone. The location of Happy, Texas feels like a character in itself with its quirky residents, picturesque scenery, and wholesome community spirit.

This movie has a lot of funny sequences. I laughed the most when Joe looked through the windows to see shadowed figures of Harry and Wayne in their room. While the men are having a serious conversation, from Joe’s perspective, the situation looks more romantic.

The film was mostly shot on location in Piru, California. They wanted to film in Texas, but due to financial reasons, they had to remain on the West Coast. The film had a very low budget to work with.

Despite that, Illsley directed a funny movie with a wholesome message. Illsley commends his editor, Norman Buckley, for transforming it into the final product. After its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Illsley went back and filmed 15 minutes of additional scenes, like changing the opening sequence.

He also changed Harry and Joe's relationship dynamic to make it flow more naturally. Similar to a story, a movie is never done when you think it is. Illsley’s direction concentrated on a specific tone he was looking for. Filmmaking is all about experimentation, to which Illsley explored more territory for his movie.

Happy, Texas deserves more audiences. So far, I have watched it twice, and both times it made me laugh.