King of California

source: King of California

Charlie (Douglas) is released from a mental hospital and returns to his home to live with his daughter, Miranda, (Wood) who had been comfortably supporting herself while he was away. And, Charlie has a plan to find the treasure Father Torres hid in the 1600s. Miranda is no longer comfortable. Normally, I run to a Michael Douglas movie and I ran to this one too, but now that I have seen it I wonder what all the running was about. There is something very wrong in this movie and I am not sure I know what it is. The narration by Miranda didn't bother me. It filled in gaps. Some of the narration was almost funny. The best line was by Miranda and went something like this: I never felt comfortable when he was around. I always felt something was about to happen. The movie shows that she did love her father, questionable as he was, but she looked after him like a mother would watch her child running close to sharp cornered tables. I, too, felt something was about to happen except it never did. Charlie was running around like a drunken sailor and seemingly lined up with pointy edged tables but his head never veered into those edges. He just kept running from one point on the map to another one to find that treasure. Miranda was frustrated and so was I. I just figured out what is wrong with this movie. It was a 2-man act: Charlie and Miranda. It needed to be more than that, more interaction with others, more dialogue, There was some, but not enough for me. Charlie bounced around so much it was hard to like him despite a twinkle in his eye and his easy-going constitution. He was incomplete as was the movie. I felt for Miranda, but not Charlie. The character Douglas played couldn't sustain a movie lead. He was like a monkey running from one found banana to another. We liked Charlie but we weren't sure what he liked and yes, we were wary of him too. We wanted Charlie to be more of a human soul, to be somewhat normal. Well, that wasn't going to happen and we were shut out. But, "somewhat normal" could have worked, too, in looking for the treasure. Audiences like it when the characters look for a treasure. Here we didn't care if it was found. The movie told us the journey was more important than the destination. Did the movie save itself? I think so even with the poor ending. Okay, really bad ending. But, the next time I will walk, not run, to a Michael Douglas movie, maybe read the box next time, ask a few friends, read some reviews…..slow walking the whole time. Violence:No; Sex: No; Nudity:No; Language: Yes and I didn't see any need for it in this "comedy."

I've worked at blockbuster. I've worked a Hollywood video. I've seen thousands of movies. This breaks the top 100 all time for me. Apparently my review wasn't long enough.....hm..... The acting was great, the main character was zany, the chemistry and relationship of the two (evan rachel wood and michael douglass) was sensational throughout, and the movie just felt.....i don't know....unconventional. Something new, something fresh, something that I hadn't been seen done before - not like this. I wonder if Michael Douglass hit that......

This is one of the best movies I saw recently. It has a bit of everything to make it an independent movie classic - goof ball characters, craziness and whole deal of introspection. What makes this movie different from many other independent films is a feel-good vibe which recently has been tough to find in American cinema and a quirky, interesting plot line. If there is anything bad I can say about the movie is that it felt too short. Fans of Little Miss Sunshine and Six feet under should be pleased with this little gem of a movie. "King of California" actually deserves to be much more popular than it is now.

Michael Douglas finally gets to cut loose a bit as a mentally loose father of one who just got out of an institution only to lead his responsible daughter onto a wild treasure hunt culminating beneath Costco's warehouse floor. King of California is one of those mildly engaging, semi-quirky, enjoyable little indie films that nonetheless becomes pretty forgettable after viewing. First timer Mike Cahill shows promise, both thematically in his modern versus ancient ruminations, and stylistically in shooting some of the urban locations in a majestic light. Unfortunately, even as the climax continues to build interest, the end result, coupled by Evan Rachel Wood 's omnipotent narration throughout pulls this somewhat unique movie back into a more typical independent-styled, light-hearted character study, forsaking most bona-fide personality for a more well rounded and safer viewing experience.

It started out fairly okay and entertaining for maybe 15-45 min.Than it just started rolling down hill. There are too many quirky sidetracks from the original story line that never really goes anywhere,and thereby is not needed to develop the story. characters that serves no purpose and line delivery that just makes you cringe in your seat. Michael Douglas play excellent,as a crazy person. But its not enough to save the film. It need more meat on the bone to be really entertaining,some in her has described it as a father and daughter movie drama.And In hind sight I think it might have started out that way on paper. Than someone had a bright idea about a treasure hunt bringing them closer together while they try solve the their family problems. It just doesn't work. It's a two person movie with no story line to make you really interested

Bad pretext for a plot. This movie is yet another which badly portrays mental illness, both in the plot and in the acting. It makes light of those who suffer from bipolar disorder, as thought it were merely a personality quirk or eccentricity, rather than a serious brain disorder that can literally kill people or ruin their lives and wreak havoc on their families. This movie doesn't have a single redeeming quality that I can think of. Other than if you're doing a study of how Hollywood perpetuates outdated myths about mental illness and continues to take advantage and ridicule the mentally ill - the last segment of population which apparently it is OK to mock.

Charlie(Michael Douglas)is a very disturbed soul getting his release after several years in a mental facility. He is sent home to his estranged teenage daughter, Miranda(Evan Rachel Wood). Charlie is of course still a bit disjointed mentally and his lack of caring of other's lives puts his relationship with Miranda in dire straits. Charlie is convinced that long-lost Spanish gold is buried beneath a local pet shop. The very skeptical Miranda ends up giving in to her father and aids in his hopes of attaining his last shot at reaching one of his dreams. Is there really Spanish treasure to be had? Douglas does put effort in his portrayal, but it is Wood who is the most impressive. Also in the cast: Willis Burks II, Laura Kachergus, Kathleen Wilhoite and Paul Lieber.

This is a film about the relationship between a father and his daughter. The daughter is extremely responsible, and more mature than dad. Dad is an irresponsible dreamer, and the role reversal is intriguing. Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood nicely compliment a very clever script. If you are the type of viewer who demands complete logic in everything that happens on the screen, you will not enjoy "King of California", because the story requires you to suspend disbelief. If you enjoy a treasure hunt, even one that is chasing smoke, then by all means see this film. It has a nice message,"you've got to believe in treasure to find it" - MERK

The King of Calinfornia features excellent performances and character development from Michale Douglass and Evan Rachel Wood. Douglass' character is especially weird and wacky, but respectable. The film is very slow moving, but enjoyable. The film is definitely not as it appears to be about the extrinsic treasure hunt. Rather is more of an intrinsic hunt for the relationship and love between a misguided father, and his prematurely grown-up daughter. The film has a great balance of drama and humor, with just a touch of adventurous excitement. Other posts have similar offerings regarding the quality and depth of this film.