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King of California (2007)

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Average Rating: 6.2/10
Reviews Counted: 68
Fresh: 43 | Rotten: 25

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.

Average Rating: 6.4/10
Critic Reviews: 26
Fresh: 17 | Rotten: 9

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.

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Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 15,826

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Movie Info

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 daughter, 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

PG-13, 1 hr. 33 min.

Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

Directed By: Mike Cahill

Written By: Mike Cahill

In Theaters: Sep 28, 2007 Wide

On DVD: Jan 29, 2008

First Look

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

October 12, 2007 Full Review Source: Toronto Star

| Comment

Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Top Critic

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

October 12, 2007 Full Review Source: Globe and Mail

| Comment (1)

Rick Groen

Globe and Mail

Top Critic

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

October 5, 2007 Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle

| Comment

Bruce Westbrook

Houston Chronicle

Top Critic

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

October 5, 2007 Full Review Source: Detroit News

| Comment (1)

Tom Long

Detroit News

Top Critic

Intermittedly entertaining if mostly contrived.

October 5, 2007 Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press

| Comment

Terry Lawson

Detroit Free Press

Top Critic

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

October 4, 2007 Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune

| Comment

Jeff Strickler

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Top Critic

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

August 25, 2008 Full Review Source: ReelzChannel.com

| Comment

Heather Huntington

ReelzChannel.com Source: ReelzChannel.com

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June 29, 2008 Full Review Source: Movies for the Masses

| Comment

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

February 11, 2008 Comment

Clint Morris

Moviehole

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

January 31, 2008 Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews

| Comment

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.

December 28, 2007 Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com

| Comment

Eric D. Snider

EricDSnider.com

Quirky dramedy mixes humor and mature themes.

November 1, 2007 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Sandie Angulo Chen

Common Sense Media

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

November 1, 2007 Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star

| Comment (1)

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.

October 20, 2007 Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle

| Comment

Toddy Burton

Austin Chronicle

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.

October 12, 2007 Full Review Source: Jam! Movies

| Comment

Kevin Williamson

Jam! Movies

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

October 12, 2007 Comment

Sean Means

Salt Lake Tribune

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.

October 11, 2007 Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City

| Comment

Jeff Vice

Deseret News, Salt Lake City

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

October 11, 2007 Full Review Source: Atlantic City Weekly

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Lori Hoffman

Atlantic City Weekly Source: Atlantic City Weekly

[A] small but cuddly film.

October 11, 2007 Full Review Source: Orlando Weekly

| Comment

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.

October 10, 2007 Full Review Source: Metromix.com

| Comment

Geoff Berkshire

Metromix.com

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Audience Reviews for King of California

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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 Evan Rachel Wood. Both are really good in

March 31, 2012

Melvin White

Super Reviewer

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 indie films that really are great, unlike

October 24, 2011

Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski

Super Reviewer

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Latest News for King of California

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