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Zero Effect
Zero Effect
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Zero Effect

Zero Effect

1998
Comedy, Suspense/Thriller
1h 56m
The world's greatest detective Daryl Zero aided by his associate Steve Arlo investigates a complex and mysterious case of blackmail and missing keys for shady tycoon Gregory Stark who is less than forthcoming about what is really happening! (imdb)

Zero Effect

1998
Comedy, Suspense/Thriller
1h 56m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 57.13% from 395 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(399)
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Rated 14 Dec 2011
89
96th
This film is a nice gem that people should talk about more. Bill Pullman and Ben Stiller work well together and Kim Dickens also gives a good performance. Pullman is really hilarious and the plot is great.
Rated 25 Sep 2011
91
95th
A bastardized version of Sherlock Holmes that manages to perfectly adapt the character tropes and style into a modern setting with a fantastic tongue in cheek tone. Several surprisingly strong performances here as well. Quite the surprise.
Rated 20 Aug 2007
80
79th
A surprisingly good film with fleshed-out characters, a great script, and decent directing for a first film. One of my 'dark horse' faves.
Rated 30 May 2010
81
63rd
What a fun little movie. There are basically only four characters but it never feels like a small film. Daryl Zero is a great character who is a lot of fun to watch. Unfortunately very few have ever heard of this little gem.
Rated 30 Mar 2021
100
97th
As a movie featuring a hero with social awkwardness and an ambiguous disorder, Zero Effect was ahead of its time. The Sherlock Holmes inspired story updates A Scandal in Bohemia not just in the mystery, but a stronger female antagonist. And as a great 90's indie picture it features characters not seen in a Hollywood film, offbeat humor, and cool jazz music. To this day I'm still impressed by the idea of solving problems via objectivity and observation. Vastly overlooked & highly underrated.
Rated 22 Nov 2015
80
86th
An adaptation that is better than the source material. Of course, the source material here is overrated in my opinion. The Holmes character is refreshingly un-sexy and not particularly impressive, and Watson provides moral guidance and is not just a blank foil.
Rated 22 Oct 2011
55
10th
The acting is good, the script is good, but unfortunately this movie suffers from the inexperience of the director. Jake Kasdan tries to make every scene poignant and shows a lot of potential in this regard. However this is also the main downside of the film. Instead of capitalizing on key scenes, his efforts to make each scene perfect throws the pace of the move off completely. In reality this movie should have been 10-20 minutes shorter. Its as if the movie was forever stuck setting up the pre
Rated 11 May 2011
76
69th
Thoroughly enjoyable mystery with a quirky sense of humour and a surprisingly touching romance at its heart. One of Pullman's best, this is a little gem.
Rated 02 May 2009
4
71st
"It's a shame low-budget American indies don't do franchises, because this unusual but traditional detective story introduced a private eye who deserves his own series."
Rated 01 Apr 2023
73
79th
Deserved some sequels, the characters were interesting.
Rated 02 Jul 2016
45
33rd
Watchable but negligible. The presence of Ben Stiller is counterbalanced by the amiable Bill Pullman, and Kim Dickens who looks a lot like Charlize Theron would after she got that first crew cut. The movie is mildly interesting at the start, but kind of runs on empty by some point.
Rated 07 Apr 2014
74
48th
74.000
Rated 06 Mar 2014
30
17th
Far far too slow for my taste with an irritating backing music and a tone of pleased with itself. Needs a good editor to come in and take chunks out of it. Couldn't make it to the end.
Rated 15 Jun 2013
3
92nd
"A hidden gem". Indeed it is.
Rated 09 Jan 2012
45
20th
4+ worth experiencing
Rated 02 Jan 2012
80
61st
Surprisingly clever
Rated 23 Dec 2010
55
31st
I had read so many good things about this film, so I had very high expectations... been a while since I watched it now, but I remember being really disappointed. Needs a rewatch I guess.
Rated 05 Apr 2008
40
11th
tries too hard to be funny
Rated 02 Mar 2007
55
49th
Not bad.

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