Zero Effect (1998)

Zero Effect follows private investigator Daryl Zero and Steve Arlo, his reluctant representative, through one particularly tangled case involving blackmail, murder, revenge, and a set of lost keys. Zero is the world's best private investigator, suave and totally in control while on a case, but socially inept when off the job. The diversely talented and prolific Bill Pullman is excellently cast as Zero, switching seamlessly from one persona to the next, and the ever-charming Ben Stiller is his perfect sidekick. In a deadpan description of his method, or the "Zero Effect," Zero details his brilliance for Sherlock Holmes-like deductions, based on his strict adherence to objectivity and observation, or, in Zero parlance, "the obs." Somewhat predictably the obs falter when the case of the missing keys brings Zero to Gloria Sullivan, a winsome and mysterious paramedic played by Kim Dickens. Thankfully, writer-director Jake Kasdan is no less brilliant than the Zero he creates, and the potential corniness of the developing romance is balanced by a razor-sharp wit and the nail-biting suspense of the unfolding plot. --Laska Jimsen Amazon.com

Very clever...but not involving

The ideas here are very clever. But this turns out to be more of a "tell the audience what's going on" movie than show them. People talk about what they're going to do, what they've done, what they're doing. There's a lot of talk and little action. For some kinds of movies, that's fine. But for this kind of movie it just doesn't seem to quite work. Of course you can consider this to be a very offbeat detective story, which is what it is, true. But the characters are just not involving enough to counterbalance the offbeat quality of the movie.

We don't really get a fully humanized portrait of Daryl Zero, the title character. As for his assistant, Steve Arlo, we know he's getting tired of working with Zero, but that seems to be the main trait that comes across characterizing him, which doesn't do much to flesh him out either. As for the "bad guy", Ryan O'Neal, he's bland. Zero's love interest, played by Kim Dickens, is the most fully realized character in the movie but when you bounce that characterization against someone who we don't have a fully developed character for, it just doesn't feel like there's a legit reason for the two of them to hook up.

I gave this three stars because the ideas are sharp. I wish I could say it was a movie that pulled me in, but it really left me pretty cold. November 29, 2008

1998's Best Film....

IIRC, this film only saw limited release in art house theatres for a few weeks in 1998. This was probably the best film of 1998, and it is surely one of the best films you've never heard of. It succeeds as a slapstick Ben Stiller comedy, a serious drama, and most of all, an intriguing Sherlock Holmes style mystery. All the performances are great, Ben Stiller as a long suffering legal investigator for the criminally underrated Bill Pullman's master PI, Daryl Zero, Kim Dickens as the mysterious "woman in trouble", and Ryan O'Neal as a wealthy industrialist caught in a dangerous web of intrigue. Add in the unique on location set of Portland, a cool alternative soundtrack, and you have a truly great, original film. Get it now! August 17, 2008

More clued out than clue-driven

THE first film from Jake Kasdan, the son of famed director Lawrence Kasdan (Pacific Heights, The Big Chill), is a detective comedy that works off a premise so obvious it's surprising it hasn't been exploited more often.

Zero Effect steals the Sherlock Holmes mystery formula and places it into a contemporary context. The problem with Kasdan's film is that it doesn't get much beyond this modestly clever idea. Mixing excessive plot intricacies and broad, quirky comedy, the film ends up as a mildly puzzling sophomoric diversion.

The self-styled "world's greatest detective" is Daryl Zero, played by Bill Pullman (Independence Day). He's a twitchy character, hair askew, eyes glazed and living in Howard Hughes-like isolation. As is often the case, Pullman seems to be in an acting class of his own, experiencing complicated inner surges and thoughts that don't have much to do with his character.

This is hardly the "cold, precise, but admirably balanced mind" of Arthur Conan Doyle's detective, though the parallels are deliberate. Instead of cocaine, Zero imbibes amphetamines; instead of playing the violin, he plays loud, squawky confessional songs on his acoustic guitar. But armed with the latest in information-gathering technology and arcane knowledge -- bylaws governing motel bed placement for the past 30 years -- Zero solves cases with magical precision. The Watson of the story, Steve Arlo, is played robotically by Ben Stiller (Flirting with Disaster). He's a resentful sidekick who gets drunk and complains incessantly about his employer while trying desperately to have an ordinary romantic life after office hours. He works as a front man for Zero, maintaining strict client confidentiality, and collecting big fees.

At the beginning of the film, Arlo is in a meeting with lumber tycoon Gregory Stark (Ryan O'Neal), a client of Zero's who is searching for missing keys to a safety deposit box, but who is also being blackmailed for a secret he will not reveal. In short order, Zero has figured out who is doing the blackmailing: a paramedic (a tough gamine played by Kim Dickens, who makes a strong impression here as she does in Great Expectations) who works at Stark's health club. In his quest to expose her motives, Zero gradually finds himself falling in love for the first time in his life, a fallibility that never afflicted Sherlock Holmes.

The movie then changes directions to concentrate on the love story, while Arlo continues his quest to break free of his boss so he can enjoy a fling of his own. The plot is complicated, relying on Zero's weird knowledge and observational skills. But the momentum is gone long before the movie ends and one is left only with a faint sense of curiosity. Like listening to Frank Sinatra sing Stevie Wonder, it's interesting, but why bother? Conrad Alton, Filmbay Editor. July 22, 2008

A modern day Sherlock Holmes

If Sherlock Holmes were alive today he would be a major pain in the neck. That seems to be the central message of Jake Kasdan's first film, which is among my favourite movies of all time.

Bill Pullman plays Daryl Zero, the greatest private detective who ever lived, who also happens to be completely hopeless when it comes to relating to other human beings, in particular to his long-suffering assistant, Steve Arlo (Ben Stiller). However, when he is hired to find a blackmailer, he comes into contact with and ultimately falls in love with Gloria Sullivan (Kim Dickens), a modern day version of Irene Adler.

This is a very well made and enjoyable film, and it interesting (and very funny) to see Kasdan's idea of what Sherlock Holmes would be like if he were alive today. With the exception of Kim Dickens, who didn't strike me as being a strong enough actress to play "the woman", all of the actors in this film are excellent. I was particularly impressed by Stiller in one of his rare "straight" roles and the way in which Pullman and Stiller work together and don't overshadow each other. I look forward to seeing more films written and/or directed by Kasdan in the future.
June 20, 2008

Unnoticed film

It is exciting at times and original. Although somewhat unbelievable for someone that know the limits of memory and technology it still is convincing to those who can suspend belief a little.

I loved it and was waiting for every twist and turn! December 17, 2007

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