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Stiller plays the straight man, acting as the voice of reason to the eccentric Zero. Whether it be explaining how to fill out a W2 form (“No, WW2 is a war”) or doing mindless research by reading phonebooks, Ben is a great Watson, keeping his Holmes in check and the case on track. A few months after Zero Effect entered the box office, There’s Something About Mary hit theaters and the rest was leading man history for Stiller.

Released January 30, 1998, the film lived up to its title, taking Zero Effect on the box office. Shot on the cheap for $5 million under the Sony Pictures/Castle Rock Entertainment banner, the film was dropped in 100 theaters, doing okay business with a $4,348 per venue average. But for reasons unknown, the studio did not expand the film any further, letting it wind up with a surprising $2 million, more than five times the opening weekend. Put out on DVD with bare bone features, Zero Effect seemed one of those strange films that could’ve been a hit, but was brushed under the carpet. I have not even seen this movie rerun on TV before, which is surprising since it has that humor one can watch over and over again.

Guess someone beat me to the chase on that idea, though.

In 2001, NBC ordered a TV pilot adaptation of the movie starring Alan Cumming as Daryl Zero. It was to serve as a prequel on how Zero and Arlo became a team. The potential series never made it past the pilot stage.

While the film looks like a blip on most of the cast’s resumes, one person that it benefited was writer/director Jake Kasdan. Son of Empire Strikes Back writer Lawrence Kasdan, Jake proved he had his own knack for writing and directing and was not just riding off of his famous last name. Jake went on to direct TV episodes, notably Judd Apatow’s Freaks and Geeks, until 2002 with his feature film follow-up Orange County. In 2007 he paired up with Judd Apatow to co-write and direct the unfunny spoof Walk Hard, that promptly flopped. In between these two films is where Jake hit comedic gold with the independent comedy, The TV Set. If you have not seen this movie, which probably you haven’t, go and get it NOW. Assumingly inspired after his failed TV Pilot of Zero Effect, The TV Set chronicles the making-of a TV pilot from concept to airing (In another confession of actors I constantly confuse, it also stars Sigourney Weaver, who I always combine with Susan Saranadon).

While the film at first seemed like run of the mill quirkiness, Kasdan’s witty writing and observant nature, developing a clear sense of whom the characters are caused the film to sneak up on me. By the end I was totally hooked and could not wait for the next case this modern day Holmes and Watson would take. Sadly, this clearly wasn’t going to happen.

With a timeless plot of missing keys and blackmail and non-pop culture humor, like any good comedy, Zero Effect is with us. Ben Stiller fans should like watching comedy’s leading man take a supporting role right before catapulting into the big leagues. Also, for anyone who has seen any of Bill Pullman’s newer work, it is interesting to see him laugh psychotically than actually be, you know, psychotic. It's fun to follow Daryl as he solves the seemingly impossible case. Zero Effect will give you a case of laughter.

Verdict: With Us
7 out of 10

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