Trixie is a 2000 American mystery-crime-comedy film directed by Alan Rudolph and starring Emily Watson, Nick Nolte, Will Patton and Brittany Murphy.
Trixie Zurbo is an eccentric woman who longs to quit her job as a security guard in a department store and become a private detective. She finally gets her wish when she takes a job in security at a casino. She accidentally becomes involved in a murderous plot and Trixie takes her first case; however, her unschooled command of the English language and comedy intervenes and the mess begins.
The film was originally meant to star Anne Heche.
Filming took place over the summer of 1999.
The script uses a style of dialog using word play similar to the Marx Brothers, Gracie Allen, and the film Airplane!.
The film premiered on June 28, 2000 in New York City and Los Angeles, California. The film was distributed by Sony Pictures Classics and received a limited theatrical release in the United States.
Despite an ensemble cast that included Nick Nolte, Will Patton, and Brittany Murphy, the film garnered mixed reviews from critics and modest box office returns, earning approximately $295,683 domestically.
Following its theatrical run, Trixie was released on DVD on December 5, 2000, providing wider access to audiences and contributing to a minor cult following, particularly among fans of unconventional detective narratives.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 27%, based on 548 reviews, and an average rating of 4.1/10. The website's critical consensus states "Boring and predictable script; not funny." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 26 out of 100, based on 28 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".
Jonathan Rosenbaum wrote "Watson holds the screen, and she and RudolphâÂÂs mise en scène supply most of what makes this movie watchable."
Variety called it "a minor, rather trivial film that reflects the director's whimsical wish to revisit the popular genres of noir and screwball, but which lacks distinctive humor or a fresh contempo take. "