Zero Effect

Year: 1998

Grade: B

Country: USA

Director: Kasdan

Review

i could see this film being turned into a tv series. not because it’s an amazing movie, but more because it’s got an interesting lead character and private investigator tv shows (matlock, murder she wrote, law and order) are generally pretty good. i’ve never really watched ‘monk’ but i think that it’s actually sort of similar to this film. bill pullman plays an eccentric private investigator who is hired to find out who is blackmailing ryan o’neal’s character. ben stiller plays pullman’s right hand man who is tired of the job and pullman’s odd methods. the mystery isn’t too twisted for it to be unbelievable, but it isn’t one you’re likely to figure out early on either so it keeps you interested. pullman does a really good job and stiller helps provide some comic relief. the story stalls a bit with the romance aspect, but it’s not too bad and there’s a degree of sincerity behind it that makes it acceptable. also, the director tells the story with visuals surprisingly well.