When we first meet Daryl Zero (Bill Pullman), the brilliant Nero Wolfe-esque private detective at the heart of Zero Effect, he is jumping on the top of his bed singing a horrible rendition of yet another of his horrible homespun country songs. "it's good, really good," his faithful assistant and footman Steve Arlo(Ben Stiller) says. Despite Daryl Zero's genius, he can't see through this lie. Arlo is bringing before his reclusive, paranoid employer another difficult case, this one involving a millionaire businessman, a lost set of keys, blackmail, and a treasure trove of family secrets.
For some reason, Zero decides to solve the case personally, and more importantly, outside his well-guarded home. In the process of discovering clues and evidence, he meets a girl. A very special girl, in fact, who is as good at intuiting him as vice versa. To give away too much would spoil the movie; suffice to say she is central to both plot and character development.
The film is written and directed by Jake Kasdan, and it's an auspicious debut. It's very well-written, with a complicated but never overwhelming mystery as its narrative drive. The characters are three dimensional and unpredictable. By the end of the movie, you really care about these characters. Watch also for a very good comic performance by Ben Stiller. It won't get all the attention, but it's sly and understated.
For some reason, Zero decides to solve the case personally, and more importantly, outside his well-guarded home. In the process of discovering clues and evidence, he meets a girl. A very special girl, in fact, who is as good at intuiting him as vice versa. To give away too much would spoil the movie; suffice to say she is central to both plot and character development.
The film is written and directed by Jake Kasdan, and it's an auspicious debut. It's very well-written, with a complicated but never overwhelming mystery as its narrative drive. The characters are three dimensional and unpredictable. By the end of the movie, you really care about these characters. Watch also for a very good comic performance by Ben Stiller. It won't get all the attention, but it's sly and understated.