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Movies / On DVD / King of California
King of California

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King of California (2007)

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Reviews Counted:66

Fresh:42

Rotten:24

Average Rating:6.2/10

Consensus: A quirky and often touching comedy about a mature teenager and her manic depressive father, King of California is a charming tale of familial relations and treasure hunting.

Runtime: 1 hr 33 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Michael Douglas gives a bravura performance in writer-director Mike Cahill's feature-length debut, KING OF CALIFORNIA. Douglas stars as Charlie, a troubled musician who has just been released from... Michael Douglas gives a bravura performance in writer-director Mike Cahill's feature-length debut, KING OF CALIFORNIA. Douglas stars as Charlie, a troubled musician who has just been released from a mental hospital. He returns home to live with his 16-year-old daughter, Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood), who is not exactly thrilled to have him back. Miranda has been forced to quit school and get a job in order to support herself and hold on to her beat-up old car and the family house, which is right in the middle of a new development--but she has refused to sell out. Instead, she works extra shifts at McDonald's and has no social life. But her father--still suffering from mental illness--insists that she join him on a wild adventure in search of supposedly long-buried treasure, and soon the two of them are combing through California, facing danger as Charlie leads them on a crazy quest that takes them through major chain stores and restaurants. Wood (THIRTEEN) is excellent as Miranda, walking that fine line between wanting to believe in her father and feeling he should be hospitalized again--but she never stops loving him, even against her better judgment. Bushy-haired and wild-eyed, Douglas shines every second he's onscreen, dreaming the impossible dream. The outstanding soundtrack features songs by John Coltrane, Seals and Crofts, Bud Powell, Fats Waller, Yma Sumac, and Billy Bragg and Wilco. [More]

Starring: Michael Douglas, Evan Rachel Wood

Starring: Michael Douglas, Evan Rachel Wood

Director: Mike Cahill

Director: Mike Cahill
Screenwriter: Mike Cahill
Producer: Michael London, Alexander Payne, Avi Lerner, Randall Emmett
Composer: David Robbins
Studio: First Look

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Reviews for King of California

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment Comment
05/13/09
Roger Moore
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
04/23/09
Tom Meek
Tom Meek
Boston Phoenix

For an 'adventure movie' full of quirk, King of California can feel a bit flat.

Full Review Source: ReelzChannel.com | comment Comment
08/25/08
Heather Huntington
Heather Huntington
ReelzChannel.com

ypotonikis ekdohis toy National Treasure (2004), poy aromatizetai katatonia aneksartitoy amerikanikoy, komple me to flyaro voice over gia ypokatastato tis afigisis kai liges ksekoyrdistes country hordes sti moysiki ypokroysi gia to sosto feeling

Full Review Source: Movies for the Masses | comment Comment
06/29/08
Joseph Proimakis
Joseph Proimakis
Movies for the Masses

'The King of California' is an easily-entertaining film that features two bravura performances. Douglas plays the character of the loony treasure-hunter Charlie with zest, passion, comedy and, well, hyperactivity - its Jack Colton post-drugs, if you will

Full Review Source: Moviehole | comment Comment
02/11/08
Clint Morris
Clint Morris
Moviehole

...one of those efforts that's destined to improve on subsequent viewings.

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
01/31/08
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

It's barely distinguishable from the many other independent films about eccentric people who do odd things, but hey, it ain't bad.

Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | comment Comment
12/28/07
Eric D. Snider
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com

Quirky dramedy mixes humor and mature themes.

Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | comment Comment
11/01/07
Sandie Angulo Chen
Sandie Angulo Chen
Common Sense Media

The clunky King of California leaves you with all the satisfaction of hitting caliche in your backyard.

Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | comment Comment
11/01/07
Phil Villarreal
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star

The story is simple, sometimes to a fault, and ultimately Cahill doesn’t quite pull off all of the majesty that he attempts. But, I’m excited to see what he’ll come up with next.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
10/20/07
Toddy Burton
Toddy Burton
Austin Chronicle

The most remarkable thing about King of California is how the characters grow on you, and how their quixotic quest becomes ours.

Full Review Source: Toronto Star | comment Comment
10/12/07
Peter Howell
Peter Howell
Toronto Star

As scripted and directed by Mike Cahill, King of California reveals itself to be a moving, bemusing gem embellished by standout work from Douglas and the habitually marvellous Evan Rachel Wood.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
10/12/07
Kevin Williamson
Kevin Williamson
Jam! Movies

The performances by Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood are the highlight of this comedy-drama.

Full Review Source: Salt Lake Tribune | comment Comment
10/12/07
Sean Means
Sean Means
Salt Lake Tribune

King of California means to be the jewel in the crown of indie-flick quirkiness, but it's really just a bauble with ambition.

Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
10/12/07
Rick Groen
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail

The film is really at its best when it's dealing with the dysfunctional father-daughter relationship. Douglas and Wood's believable character dynamic certainly helps.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
10/11/07
Jeff Vice
Jeff Vice
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Michael Douglas is getting all the praise ... but Rachael Evan Wood is just as good ...

Full Review Source: Atlantic City Weekly | comment Comment
10/11/07
Lori Hoffman
Lori Hoffman
Atlantic City Weekly

[A] small but cuddly film.

Full Review Source: Orlando Weekly | comment Comment
10/11/07
Adam Bregman
Adam Bregman
Orlando Weekly

The success of those sequences only underline how good the film might have been if it wasn't so busy trying to be cute.

Full Review Source: Metromix.com | comment Comment
10/10/07
Geoff Berkshire
Geoff Berkshire
Metromix.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
10/06/07
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Writer-director Mike Cahill explores Charlie's foolishness with funny-sad fondness.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
10/05/07
Bruce Westbrook
Bruce Westbrook
Houston Chronicle
 
 
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