King of California: Critic Reviews

In this surprisingly fresh handling of indie quirk, an unstable, jazz-musician father (Michael Douglas) enlists his long-suffering,teenage daughter (Evan Rachel Wood) in a search for Spanish gold buried under a banal Costco.

Breezy, loose-jointed.

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.

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

Hard to tell what's more annoying in this empty character study of eccentrics and the suckers who love them: the braying, blurting soundtrack or Douglas himself, who can't find his way into a man tortured by dull demons.

This is mighty tricky territory, and Cahill deserves major credit for keeping the story from becoming mawkish or twee.

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

The film, in its own off-center way, is worth seeing, if only because of the zealotry of the Douglas performance and the pluck of Evan Rachel Wood.

The product placement is so egregious that it actually nurtures Cahill's theme of treasure lurking just beyond the crapola of American life. Unfortunately, that's also the theme of The Price Is Right.

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

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

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

[Douglas] is a manic joy, and Wood manages to hang on for the ride.

This weak script would not have been filmed if it hadn't been for Douglas' weakness for acting as nutty as a Snickers bar.

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

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

Unfortunately, first-time director Mike Cahill spends an inordinate amount of time dealing with the nuances of the hunt and caper and, even with his attempts to add in a dash of comedy, he can't redeem this aspect of the project.

A sweet-natured exploration of a father and daughter seeking elusive harmony.

Mike Cahill focuses on the magic worth finding between a father and daughter. That's why the film sticks with you. It's a gift.

[A] strange, funny and sad story.

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

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'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