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Michael Douglas, Evan Rachel Wood, Willis Burks II, Laura Kachergus, Paul Lieber ... see more see more... , Kathleen Wilhoite , Anne Nathan , Arthur Santiago , Ashley Greene , Ian Hopps , Anna Khaja , Will Rothhaar , Annie O'Donnell , Greg Davis Jr , Jeanie Hackett , Mousa Kraish , Max Grodénchik , Gerald Emerick , David O'Donnell , Chic Daniel , Angel Oquendo , Jason Auer , Ho-Kwan Tse , Allisyn Ashley Arm , Gary Paul Gates

Michael Douglas stars as a treasure-hunting eccentric in this Alexander Payne-produced comedy from director Michael Cahill. Recently released from a mental institution and reunited with his teenage da... read more read more...ughter, Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood), Charlie (Douglas) decides there's century's old gold buried near their lower-middle-class neighborhood, and sets out on an obsessive quest to find it. Along the way, the estranged parent and child rekindle a long-lost bond with each other. Featuring a score by David Robbins, King of California screened at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

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64% liked it

15,833 ratings

Critics

63% liked it

68 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 33 min.

Directed by: Mike Cahill

Release Date: September 28, 2007

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DVD Release Date: January 29, 2008

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Flixster Reviews (2,015)

  • blkbomb
    March 31, 2012
    blkbomb
    Miranda: You don't take anything seriously do you? You think the world is just here for your amusement! 

    "We're all searching for something..."

    It took awhile for King of California to completely win me over, but in the end, it did. Mostly due to it's leads, Michael Douglas and... read more Evan Rachel Wood. Both are really good in this father-daughter dramedy. I won't say that this is necessarily a great movie, but it is a rather good one. It seems to be missing something that would really take it over the top, but it survives never the less.

    Miranda is a 16 year old who has been living on her own for awhile. The reason? Her father, Charlie, has been in a mental institution. Well, he gets out, and it doesn't take long to see that he still seems crazy. He begins telling Miranda of buried treasure that's buried somewhere below the city. He has researched it all in the institution. Miranda has a tough time deciding whether to encourage him or tell him he is crazy, but along the hunt, the two begin to connect.

    I really liked the idea for the movie and Michael Douglas was the perfect choice for Charlie. He looks the part, with a thick, scraggly beard. Plus you know that Michael Douglas is going to play his character perfectly. Evan Rachel Wood nearly matches Douglas with her performance as the crazy guys daughter. She's really likable and you can always feel for what her character has and is going through.

    King of California is definitely worth a look. It's a brisk and somewhat emotionally moving film. It's quirky, but not too quirky to where it would be off-putting. The dramedy can be a challenging task, but in this case it worked well.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    October 24, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    King of California is a wonderful drama comedy. I very much enjoyed the film, and I thought that Michael Douglas delivered one of his greatest performances here. The cast is great and story though a bit silly, is enjoyable and entertaining. King of California is one of those indi... read moree films that really are great, unlike such trash as Juno; this indie film really is a wonderful film. I very much enjoyed the film, and thought the story was great. The cast pull off something great here, and director Mike Cahill directs a strong film with effective pacing, and thought at times, it's slow; King of California always manages to be entertaining. After being convinced that there is treasure buried underneath their neighborhood Costco, Charlie sets out on a quest to discover it. In the process he reconnects with his estranged daughter. This film succeeds where so many indie films have failed. This film simply has a charming story and a good cast to boot. King of California is one of the best indie films that I have seen. The film blends good comedy, with drama and the story is engaging and entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and if you're looking for a terrific independent film, give King of California a viewing. One of Michael Douglas' best films. This is a film not to miss. I absolutely recommend this film. A great film.
  • LWOODS04
    June 6, 2011
    LWOODS04
    Cast: Michael Douglas, Evan Rachel Wood, Laura Kachergus, Will Rothhaar, Paul Lieber, Kathleen Wilhoite

    Director: Mike Cahill

    Summary: This quirky Sundance comedy from writer-director Mike Cahill chronicles the journey of a delusional father (Michael Douglas) who's convin... read moreced that a fabled treasure is buried somewhere beneath his Southern California suburb. His delinquent daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) -- a high school dropout who was abandoned by her mother and saw her father sent to a mental institution -- resists his ravings at first. But, eventually, she starts to believe.

    My Thoughts: "I really didn't know what to expect from this type of movie.. I thought I wasn't going to like it, but to my surprise I really enjoyed it.. It was funny, interesting, and deffinetly made you want to keep watching it just to see if there really was gold.. Its about a strange relationship between a daughter who has pretty much been on her own since her mother left them, and a father who is, by society, claimed mentally insane. But as it goes it just shows you what a genius he is.
    Its a good father and daughter movie.. I recommend it."
  • MrMarakai
    May 5, 2011
    MrMarakai
    Nepotism is rife throughout Hollywood and as much as I despise it, I think I may have to finally admit that after all these years, Michael Douglas does have some talent of his own and isn't just a by-product of his father Kirk.
    Douglas' plays Charlie, a free-spirited eccentric w... read moreho's just been released from a mental institution and is obsessed with locating an ancient Spanish treasure that he believes is buried right under peoples noses in California. To aide him in his crazy quest - and against her better judgement - he enlists his sixteen-year-old daughter Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood).
    Douglas is a treat to watch here. I always took him to be one of the self-important Hollywood types, but here he doesn't take himself too seriously at all and reminded me, that he has in fact produced some wonderful comedic performances throughout his career; "War of the Roses"; "Wonderboys"; and "One Night at McCools", to name a few.
    His character of Charlie can be included amongst these oddities. He's highly intelligent but also quite dysfunctional on a basic level and Douglas perfectly captures this creative, intelligent madness. This is also helped by Evan Rachel Wood's sensitive performance as Miranda and her almost escapist, dreamlike perspective which adds to the surreal and farout nature of her father and her feelings of a stolen childhood, due his quirky demeanor. They are both delightful performances in an unexpectedly delightful film.
    It's not groundbreaking material by any means but it is an original little caper with a real sense for the offbeat.
  • SirPant
    April 11, 2011
    SirPant
    A gem, lurking in the bargain bin of my local supermarket. Michael Douglas plays lawyer/Ruthless Businessman/jealous husband very well etc etc but it's his quirky little performances like this and the one in Wonderboys that I love him for. I liked the story, I liked the pace, ac... read moreting and premise, it was subtle, sweet and thoroughly entertaining. Without spoiling the storyline for anyone, there is a particularly strong scene here that is brutal but handled with amazing tact, it is real credit to Mike Cahill's direction. 'From the makers of Sideways', you decide whether or not that tag line appeals to you or not and act accordingly, my rating maybe generous but it does reflect how much I enjoyed it.
  • deano
    August 21, 2010
    deano
    Writer-director Mike Cahill's debut feature is never really deciding if it's a comedy or drama. This is the second Michael Douglas film that he used to play his character with his real beard. He makes his performance as Charles work nicely, acting like a loony was released from t... read morehe home a bit too early.
    The ever developing Evan Rachel Wood is solid in the role of Miranda, the whole movie develops through her narration and her acting is effortlessly touching.
  • romy861
    May 8, 2010
    romy861
    I wasn't entirely sure I liked this all that much while it was on, but it does make an impression slowly. By the end I was well and truly hooked and waiting to see how it would end. Evan Rachel Wood is, as always, impressive, playing an old beyond her years teen who has had to ... read morefend for herself while her father is away in hospital. His return complicates her life. This movie won't be for everyone as it does get kind of dark, but if you are in the mood for something different, you could certainly watch worse.
  • lewiskendell
    March 3, 2010
    lewiskendell
    King of California is a quirky, personal drama about a troubled man and his exasperated daughter. The story seems briefer than it actually is. You get burdened with very little backstory, and the plot doesn't cover a very long period of time. The movie zips along, and I'm certain... read morely an avowed fan of zipping.

    Evan Rachel Wood was great. I couldn't get over the fact that she looked like a non-depressed version of Kristen Stewart. There's no doubt, she's a good and likeable actress. I don't know if anyone would "love" this movie, per se, but I dug the bittersweet ending and the originality of the plot. Give King of California a shot, at the very least, you'll learn a few things about California's history.
  • aliceinpunderland
    January 25, 2010
    aliceinpunderland
    Neither of the two performances are truly inspired. Michael Douglas goes through the motions of crazy, and ERW is pretty bland when she's not playing a sociopath. She may be able to cry at the drop of a hat, but she relies too much on pointing and exhaling while exasperated.
    ... read more
    I heard the screenplay was a finalist in a contest, but it favors commonplace metaphors and emotions. The ending's kinda sweet though.
  • mjgildea
    January 19, 2010
    mjgildea
    I liked the acting and I liked the direction in King of California but I just couldn't bring myself to care about the movie as a whole. Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood worked well together and the swingers party was brilliant in all its grotesque genius. The father/daughter ... read moreflashbacks got me a tad misty as well to the point where I sort of cared about what happened to Douglas' character at the end. (But that's more of being a father an turning me into a total puss when watching some movies. Neither here nor there...) On the down side, I felt like I was watching a Cuckoo's Nest spin-off (right down to the score) and despite having to raise herself, Wood's character was way too mature. I don't know, plenty of stuff I didn't buy and not enough entertaining parts to sell King of California for me. But it was nice to see Douglas in a movie that wasn't total crap.

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Critic Reviews

Peter Howell
October 12, 2007
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

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

Rick Groen
October 12, 2007
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

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

Bruce Westbrook
October 5, 2007
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle

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

Tom Long
October 5, 2007
Tom Long, Detroit News

Rambunctious and rousing from beginning to end, the hugely entertaining King of California offers Michael Douglas his best role since Traffic. Full Review

Terry Lawson
October 5, 2007
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Intermittedly entertaining if mostly contrived. Full Review

Jeff Strickler
October 4, 2007
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune

While the project certainly has its clever aspects, the bulk of the credit goes to Douglas. Full Review

Walter V. Addiego
September 28, 2007
Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle

...Cahill wins me over with this poignant depiction of a tender father-daughter relationship. Full Review

Ty Burr
September 28, 2007
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

A flaky, tedious, intermittently likable fable about being crazy in a crazy world. Full Review

Carrie Rickey
September 28, 2007
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

The treasure of the film is the unearthing of the family bond, magically played by Douglas and Wood. Full Review

Desson Thomson
September 27, 2007
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

There's so little authenticity between them, it destroys the story's most crucial element: the love between father and daughter. And finding the gold becomes our only reason to watch. Full Review

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King of California Trivia

  • I've played a super-smooth spy, a Chicago cop, a king, a member of the SAS imprisoned in California, an outlawed people's champion and been obsessed with finding a holy relic - who am I?   Answer »
  • After a cameo in the 1996 movie "Jerry Maguire", this sports star went on to guest voice on both "King of the Hill" and "The Simpsons". What California born sports star was this?  Answer »
  • In the 2003 Tarentino film "Kill Bill", the members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad are all named for snakes: Sidewinder, Black Mamba, Cottonmouth, Copperhead, and California Mountain (King) snake. However, they are also the names of enemies of what superhero?  Answer »
  • After a cameo in the 1996 movie "Jerry Maguire", this sports star went on to guest voice on both "King of the Hill" and "The Simpsons". What California born sports star was this?  Answer »
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