Zero Effect – (1997) A person can’t avoid his/her nature. An antigodlin movie that sly shifts its skewed perspective into a multidimensional riddle by giving an enema to an enigma, the result being redemption of the ridiculous. Steve Arlo (Ben Stiller) is the sardonic legal front man for the world’s greatest observer (“He can tell you where you were born, how old your mother was at the time, and what you had for breakfast, all within 30 seconds of meeting you”), the world’s pre-eminent private investigator, Daryl Zero (Bill Pullman), a post-modern, paranoid yet scrupulous Sherlock Holmes, who off assignment is clueless and loveless. Steve’s girlfriend, with whom he rarely has opportunities to spend time because of Daryl’s quirky demands, insists Steve give notice. But first a case in Portland, Oregon, of tycoon Gregory Stark (Ryan O’Neal), who has lost the key to a mysterious safe-deposit box but is reticent to reveal its contents, uncovers blackmail, murder, and an unusual suspect, paramedic Gloria Sullivan (Kim Dickens). Comic but not really a comedy, rather a dramedy.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2007 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

Patrick Ivers can be reached via e-mail at .