Rating: 
Summary: "Passion is the enemy of precision"
Review: --Daryl Zero, master private investigatorI saw this movie in the theater when it opened because I am a Bill Pullman fan. Little did I know that I'd be hooked on it from the moment I saw the clever opening credits. Hilarious performances by Pullman and Ben Stiller (one of Stiller's best, in fact). Nice turn also by Ryan O'Neal and Kim Dickens. Subtle soundtrack (also well worth owning!). I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this movie--can't ask for more than that!
Rating: 
Summary: Some more Zero sequels please
Review: A few minutes into the movie, and I was hooked. Ben Stiller was very good alternating between a straight-faced and exasperated associate of Daryl Zero. As Zero, Bill Pullman had perhaps his best role. This movie is definitely worth more than one viewing. And I want sequels! The DVD edition is inexpensive, and has most of the goodies that come with the format.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliance in a year of overrated films
Review: A skeptical film watcher, I was blown away by this one; Pullman and Stiller become far less unsung in a wonderful variation of Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. The successful modernization of a classic work is even harder to find than classics themselves, but Zero Effect even manages to update the basic structure while maintaining the luster of an unadorned masterpiece. Let me be frank- this almost makes up for Pullman's appearance in ID4... actually, it does. I am of the opinion that the more informed and educated comedy is, the more outragesously funny it is. HBO's Mr. Show is a prime example of this, as is Zero Effect. 3.4 x 10^5 thumbs up... HAHAH!
Rating:
Summary: Anything but a zero
Review: a wonderfully enjoyable movie. Bill Pullman and Ben Stiller are great. The scene in the hotel room where Arlo tells zero that there aren't good guys and bad guys is one of the most subtely humurous ever. Great soundtrack backs this great movie.
Rating:
Summary: fantastic muted-humor dialogue (See Grosse Point Blank)
Review: ABSOLUTELY GREAT one of the top films of the yea
Rating:
Summary: I watched it last night...
Review: and I keep thinking about it today! I'd never heard of it before seeing it on the video store shelf, and I'm glad I rented it. Overall, I really enjoyed this movie, although it got a little slow in one or two parts. Bill Pullman gave an excellent performance.
Rating:
Summary: Portland is the enemy of precision
Review: Bill is Zero. Ben is Arlo. Together, they're a wacky team that, err, whoops. Bill Pullman's Daryl Zero is definitely an odd character. He's yet another "my other brother Daryl." He's almost, but not quite, a master of disguise, but his deductive reasoning hasn't been matched since, well, another fictional character that's been mentioned frequently in these reviews. Why is he odd? He's a recluse, living in a fabulous, quadruple locked, windowless penthouse apartment, living on bulk pretzels and Tab. And pills. Ben Stiller is his associate, and he's the consummate professional, but working for a demanding spacecase like Pullman is taking its toll. On the other hand, the money's nice. Ryan O'Neal is the bad guy. He's a pudgy ex-Ivy Leaguer, who has built his fortune in Portland, OR., and he's being blackmailed. Plus there's bad poetry involved. Bad rock. Bad fake moustaches. Bad hair days. And you'll find out more about the recent history of American Bed design. Sure there's cliches piled up throughout the film, and a couple of the principles don't quite make it over the top (Pullman and Featherstone), this film didn't deserve to tank as badly as it did. It's a fun rent. Check it out. DVD Extras -- nothing too special. You get the trailer. My feeble PC crashed a lot when I was looking at actor bios.
Rating:
Summary: Portland is the enemy of precision
Review: Bill is Zero. Ben is Arlo. Together, they're a wacky team that, err, whoops. Bill Pullman's Daryl Zero is definitely an odd character. He's yet another "my other brother Daryl." He's almost, but not quite, a master of disguise, but his deductive reasoning hasn't been matched since, well, another fictional character that's been mentioned frequently in these reviews. Why is he odd? He's a recluse, living in a fabulous, quadruple locked, windowless penthouse apartment, living on bulk pretzels and Tab. And pills. Ben Stiller is his associate, and he's the consummate professional, but working for a demanding spacecase like Pullman is taking its toll. On the other hand, the money's nice. Ryan O'Neal is the bad guy. He's a pudgy ex-Ivy Leaguer, who has built his fortune in Portland, OR., and he's being blackmailed. Plus there's bad poetry involved. Bad rock. Bad fake moustaches. Bad hair days. And you'll find out more about the recent history of American Bed design. Sure there's cliches piled up throughout the film, and a couple of the principles don't quite make it over the top (Pullman and Featherstone), this film didn't deserve to tank as badly as it did. It's a fun rent. Check it out. DVD Extras -- nothing too special. You get the trailer. My feeble PC crashed a lot when I was looking at actor bios.
Rating:
Summary: Zero Effect
Review: Daryl Zero (Bill Pullman) is the greatest private investigator in the world, but he's an eccentric mess when he's not working.
This movie is about a particular case which he and his "representative" Steve Arlo (Ben Stiller) get involved in.
I felt that this movie was well directed. The opening scene, switching between Arlo describing Daryl Zero to a potential client and describing him to a drinking buddy, is perfect.
The "P.I. work" aspect of this movie is handled well. If you enjoy watching amazing feats of knowlege and deduction you will enjoy this movie. Also very well done, is the comedic aspect. Daryl Zero has some very funny moments, especially when he's narrating the memoir of his investigatory technique, which he is writing. These things take center stage over the actual mystery and surprises.
Although I am a fan of Ben Stiller his character in this movie was nothing spectacular. It seems, to me, he only shines when he's playing an over-the-top character such as in "Heavy Weights" or "Zoolander". When he's playing a 'normal' character he can be rather boring in my opinion. Daryl seems to be the only character who has much depth until Gloria Sullivan (Kim Dickens) enters the picture. Some might think the romance between Daryl and Gloria (whom he investigates) detracted from the movie. Usually I dislike romance in movies, because its shallow and corny. In this movie I actually found it worked well and did not succumb to either of the aforementioned flaws. Perhaps it was because I found the two characters likable and real. It did, however, slow the movie down some and there may be those who would not appreciate it.
Rating:
Summary: Zero Effect
Review: Daryl Zero (Bill Pullman) is the greatest private investigator in the world, but he's an eccentric mess when he's not working.
This movie is about a particular case which he and his "representative" Steve Arlo (Ben Stiller) get involved in.
I felt that this movie was well directed. The opening scene, switching between Arlo describing Daryl Zero to a potential client and describing him to a drinking buddy, is perfect.
The "P.I. work" aspect of this movie is handled well. If you enjoy watching amazing feats of knowlege and deduction you will enjoy this movie. Also very well done, is the comedic aspect. Daryl Zero has some very funny moments, especially when he's narrating the memoir of his investigatory technique, which he is writing. These things take center stage over the actual mystery and surprises.
Although I am a fan of Ben Stiller his character in this movie was nothing spectacular. It seems, to me, he only shines when he's playing an over-the-top character such as in "Heavy Weights" or "Zoolander". When he's playing a 'normal' character he can be rather boring in my opinion. Daryl seems to be the only character who has much depth until Gloria Sullivan (Kim Dickens) enters the picture. Some might think the romance between Daryl and Gloria (whom he investigates) detracted from the movie. Usually I dislike romance in movies, because its shallow and corny. In this movie I actually found it worked well and did not succumb to either of the aforementioned flaws. Perhaps it was because I found the two characters likable and real. It did, however, slow the movie down some and there may be those who would not appreciate it.
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