L.A. Riot Spectacular

29% of critics liked it

43% of users liked it

Christopher McDonald, Emilio Estevez
In theaters Apr 25, 2005
R, 1 hr. 20 min.

Movie Info

Cast: Christopher McDonald, Emilio Estevez, T.K. Carter, Ronny Cox, Charles S. Dutton, John Shin, Satya Lee, David Rasche, Anne-Marie Johnson, Charles Durning
Director: Marc Klasfeld
Rated: R
Running Time: 1 hr. 20 min.
Genre: Comedy
Theater Release: Apr 25, 2005
DVD Release: Aug 15, 2006
Synopsis: The controversial satire The LA Riot Spectacular plays for mordent laughs the events that consumed L.A. in 1992, after the police officers on trial for beating motorist Rodney King were found innocent. The city was engulfed by a massive riot, but the film plays these moments for laughs. In addition to recreating some of the images seen on television, the film skewers a variety of figures including the police, the media, and the citizens of the city. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Critic Reviews

  • John Anderson, Variety
    [The] pic feels overlong because once it's established that this is going to be a tasteless, if occasionally hilarious, exercise in social criticism, the movie needs to constantly accelerate the level of hilarity, which is impossible to do. More...
  • Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times
    A veteran director of music videos, [Marc] Klasfeld has for his feature film debut churned out a lifeless series of sketch-comedy ideas that presumably would make even the Wayans brothers blanch at their broadness. More...
  • Steven Mikulan, L.A. Weekly
    The gags are mortally unfunny. More...
  • Andy Klein, Los Angeles CityBeat
    ...occasionally funny, but the tone is mostly one of frantic and forced "outrageousness"... More...
  • Brian Orndorf, FilmJerk.com
    Stunningly, the end of 'The L.A. Riot Spectacular' promises a sequel taking on the OJ Simpson trial. If I have to physically go to the west coast and prevent this from happening, I'm prepared to make that commitment. More...
  • Chris Barsanti, Filmcritic.com
    A film that works overtime to offend each and every ethnic group and economic class that makes up the smoggy purgatory of Los Angeles while simultaneously patting itself on the back for being so putatively daring. More...
  • , Film Threat
    More...