Happy, Texas (1999) [PG-13]

This is a funny movie. Two prison escapees from a Texas chain gang, Harry Sawyer (Jeremy Northam) and Wayne Wayne Wayne Jr. ((Steve Zahn) steal a van and assume the identities of the owners: gay partners who are hired by small Texas towns to help their girls qualify for a beauty pageant.

When the van breaks down in Happy, Texas, they have no choice but to go ahead and do the job the town hired the others to do. The first surprise is that the girls are just that: little girls. Of course, everyone in the town thinks the two are gay which adds to their problems as they both find women they are attracted to. The sheriff of the town (William H. Macy in an excellent performance) also has a secret.

It is pretty funny watching these two help the girls prepare for the Little Miss Fresh Squeezed Preteen Talent Competition when they know nothing about such things. Wait til you see Steve Zahn wearing high heels and his choreography of a swan dance!

Although shot in only 29 days with a tiny budget, it doesn't look or feel low budget. This is a little, feel-good movie, with a fairy tale happy ending.

DIRECTOR: Mark Illsley. CAST: Jeremy Northam, Steve Zahn, William H. Macy, Ally Walker, Illeana Douglas, M.C. Gainey, Ron Perlman, Paul Dooley, Mo Gaffney.

AWARDS: 6 wins and 6 nominations