Daryl Zero is an enigma, a man with an enviable reputation and extensive cases solved list, but a rarely seen recluse, known people hater and eccentric. As a result of this phobia Zero is exclusively represented by his assistant Steve (Ben Stiller) in discussions and negotiations, and it is at the outset of the film that Steve takes on a case for wealthy businessman Gregory Stark (Ryan O’Neal), who tasks Zero with finding out who took the key to his safety deposit box.
Now for a Howard Hughes type recluse Zero sure does yap a lot, and not just to Steve. Under the veil of anonymity and the rep of being a ‘master of disguise’ (which means a fake mustache and occasional bad wig), Zero chats to Stark and others, notably a young woman in the gym. Every innocuous response and line is filtered, considered and digested, giving Zero invaluable insight and information that he almost instantly converts into huge leads and dramatic headway in the case.
Meanwhile Steve is juggling a girlfriend and an ever increasing list of duties imposed by Zero, who belittles Steve but totally relies on his presence. The flimsiness of Steve’s relationship is constantly hinted at, but remains a sub-plot that goes nowhere.
Zero Effect has a tone that harkens back to the TV classic Moonlighting, but ends up a dumbed down version of Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, ironic given it purports to be about the world’s foremost investigative mind. It has a similar ongoing narration device that is kinda meta and kinda works but not really. It presents a different face to traditional genius, and indeed some of the plot advancements are clever, but the film is not nearly as clever as its protagonist.
At the very least you can say that the film holds aspirations to entertain, which I guess every film should, but it seems more overt here. It’s just that many do it better than others. Zero Effect is a quiet Saturday night film that won’t force you to change channels, nor will it demand that you stay awake until the end.
In fact the most likely outcome will be that it reminds you to check out Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang again.
Final Rating – 6.5 / 10. It ain’t a zero, but it also doesn’t have much of a lasting effect.
