The Pest

1997

The Pest

Critics Consensus

The Pest aims for zany comedy with social commentary, misses, and lands squarely at offensive misfire thanks to John Leguizamo's over-caffeinated performance and a script laden with stereotypes.

8%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 24

68%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 31,486
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The Pest Photos

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Movie Info

A man discovers the lighter side of being hunted down like an animal in this manic comedy. Pestario "Pest" Vargas (John Leguizamo) is a low-rent con man from Miami's South Beach who has fallen deeply in debt to ill-tempered members of the Scottish mafia (complete with kilts). Desperate to raise $50,000 to stave off having his legs broken (and possibly turned into haggis), Vargas takes an offer for a very high paying one day job from Gustav Shank (Jeffrey Jones), a German businessman visiting Florida. However, it's not until later that Vargas finds out what Shank has in mind. The lunatic white supremacist Shank transports Vargas to his island compound, Little Germany, and announces that he will hunt him as wild game. If Vargas can survive for 24 hours, he gets the cash; otherwise, his head will join the others stuffed and mounted on Shank's wall. Can Vargas' speed, agility, and gift for cheesy impersonations save him now? John Leguizamo co-wrote The Pest's original story, loosely based on the classic adventure tale The Most Dangerous Game. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (adult situations/language, nudity, violence)
  • Genre:
    Comedy
  • Directed By:
    Paul Miller
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Cast

John Leguizamo
as Pestario 'Pest' Vargas
Jeffrey Jones
as Gustav Shank
Eduardo Ballerini
as Himmel Shank
Edoardo Ballerini
as Himmel Shank
Freddy Rodriguez
as Ninja
Tammy Townsend
as Xantha Kent
Aries Spears
as Chubby
Joe Morton
as Mr. Kent
Charles Hallahan
as Angus
Tom McCleister
as Leo
Ivonne Coll
as Gladyz
Pat Skipper
as Glen Livitt
Jorge Luis Abrell
as Piercer
Jennifer Broughton
as Bank Employee
Yau-Gene Chan
as Cook
Joe Jokubeit
as Laphroig
David Bar Katz
as White Guy
Will Potter
as White Guy
Les Lannom
as Bagpipe Player
Jim Lau
as Mr. Cheung
Barrie Mizerski
as Host
Hugh Murphy
as Emcee
Kristin Norton
as Trixy
Yelba Osorio
as Malaria
Cantor Aviva Rosenbloom
as Cantor
Julian Scott Urena
as Sergio
View All

Critic Reviews for The Pest

All Critics (24) | Top Critics (8) | Fresh (2) | Rotten (22)

  • It seems to be targeted at eight-year-old boys with attention-deficit disorder, and could have been more competently made by any one of them.

    Aug 4, 2009

    Keith Phipps

    AV Club
    Top Critic

  • Pic exists solely to showcase Leguizamo's wild and crazy antics, which are very much an acquired taste.

    Mar 27, 2009

    Joe Leydon

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • When Mr. Leguizamo isn't doing third-rate ethnic parody, he is wallowing in scatological jokes that are so poorly prepared and executed that they make similar antics by Mr. Carrey play like classic routines.

    Aug 30, 2004 | Rating: 0.5/5

    Stephen Holden

    New York Times
    Top Critic

  • Talented and versatile actor-comedian John Leguizamo indulges himself so totally with incessant mugging, mimicking and all-around showing off that he begins to wear out his welcome before the opening credit sequence is over.

    Feb 14, 2001 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…

    Kevin Thomas

    Los Angeles Times
    Top Critic

  • Obviously, someone must have told Leguizamo he's a comic genius. Whoever did that isn't his friend.

    Jan 1, 2000 | Rating: 0/4 | Full Review…

    Mick LaSalle

    San Francisco Chronicle
    Top Critic

  • It's the kind of movie where every paying customer deserves to receive a handwritten apology from the producers.

    Jan 1, 2000 | Rating: 0/4 | Full Review…

    James Berardinelli

    ReelViews
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (24)

Audience Reviews for The Pest

  • Jul 03, 2012
    This is one of those comedies that use gross out moments in trying to create humor. This film fails at being a good comedy and it is not worth watching. The reason why the film fails is because it has a poorly written script, one that isn't really funny. This film had a good idea, but execution of its comedy was very poor. I've seen this film when originally released, and though I thought that the idea was good, there was just something missing from this film to really make it worth seeing. This is simply put, a stupid comedy that is more annoying than funny. John Leguizamo is pretty funny doing his stand-up comedy, but in this film, he's absolutely wasted. This is a poorly constructed film that has dimwitted humor that doesn't work. This film had a good idea, but the gags are what make this one fail, and they're more gross than funny. This really could have been a good film, but due to a poor script, poor comedy and overall bad acting, it doesn't have anything going for it. Don't expect anything good with this film. It was a tiresome film, with no redeeming qualities and it just fell flat. There are no good comedy bits here, and there is just a poorly constructed comedy with gross out laughs that really don't work. This is a poorly acted film, directed film and one to avoid. Watch something else instead, The Pest is never funny and is more annoying than anything. Leguizamo has made better films; this is just one to forget.
    Alex r Super Reviewer
  • Jan 17, 2012
    I remember hating this movie when it 1st came out & watching it today, I still hate it.John Leguizamo's character Pest was EXTREMELY annoying & I wanted to squash him like a bug.The Pest was just as bad as Leguizamo's TV show (Anybody remember House Of Buggin?) The funniest thing about it was the jeep scene at the night club & that wasnt even that funny.This movie blows!
    Brody M Super Reviewer
  • May 27, 2011
    Fun and unforgettable. The thing is: The Pest is terrible dumb, and totally bad written. Anyway, still funny and very entertaining. One of my guild pleasure.
    Lucas M Super Reviewer
  • Jun 18, 2009
    i rented this one time and because of that, i really dont care to talk about it
    Coxxie M Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

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