Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- warm
- sincere
- lazy sunday
- date night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film a simple, funny, warm romantic comedy elevated by its talented cast and appealing soundtrack.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Escaped convicts Harry and Wayne are mistaken for a gay couple hired to run a children's beauty pageant, and they sustain the deception for personal advantage.
The two fugitives must perform respectability and community leadership in the unfamiliar town of Happy, Texas.
Harry and Wayne publicly adopt a gay-couple persona while the town responds to them as valued community members.
The fugitives' criminal masquerade becomes entangled with their attraction to Josephine and Doreen and with the sheriff's sincere feelings.
Films like Happy, Texas, and why
The Birdcage
warm small-town romantic comedy built around mistaken identity, fish-out-of-water humor, and an ensemble cast
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
lighthearted con-artist comedy combining romance, deception, and affectionate character-based humor
Doc Hollywood
small-town comedy with an outsider protagonist, community eccentricity, and gentle romantic sentiment
Tootsie
romantic comedy driven by mistaken identity, gender performance, and a broad but warm comedic tone
Movie Details
- Director
- Mark Illsley
- Release Date
- 1999-12-03
- Runtime
- 98 min
- Rating
- 5.7 / 10 (129)
Cast
- Jeremy Northam
- Steve Zahn
- William H. Macy
- Ally Walker
- Illeana Douglas
- M.C. Gainey
- Ron Perlman
- Mo Gaffney
- Paul Dooley
- Jillian Berard
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Happy, Texas about?
- Two escaped convicts turn a mistaken gay-couple identity into a Texas beauty-pageant scam, only to find unexpected affection and community.
- What is Happy, Texas like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Happy, Texas as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Happy, Texas violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Happy, Texas as mild.
- What did critics think of Happy, Texas?
- Critics broadly found the film a simple, funny, warm romantic comedy elevated by its talented cast and appealing soundtrack.
- Which films are like Happy, Texas?
- Films with a similar feel include The Birdcage, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Doc Hollywood, and Tootsie.
- How long is Happy, Texas?
- Happy, Texas runs 98 minutes.
- Where can I watch Happy, Texas?
- In United States, Happy, Texas is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
