King of California (2007)

An unstable dad who after getting out of a mental institution tries to convince his daughter that there's Spanish gold buried somewhere under suburbia.

Director:

Mike Cahill

Writer:

Mike Cahill

Stars:

Michael Douglas, Evan Rachel Wood, Willis Burks II

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Douglas	...	Charlie
Evan Rachel Wood	...	Miranda
Willis Burks II	...	Pepper
Laura Kachergus	...	Rita
Paul Lieber	...	Doug
Kathleen Wilhoite	...	Kelly
Anne L. Nathan	...	Applebee's Manager (as Anne Nathan)
Arthur Santiago	...	McDonald's Manager
Ashley Greene	...	McDonald's Customer
Ian Hopps	...	Boy
Anna Khaja	...	Officer Contreras
Will Rothhaar	...	Security Guard
Annie O'Donnell	...	Greeter
Greg Davis Jr.	...	Joseph
Jeanie Hackett	...	Teacher

Storyline

A fresh-out-of-the-mental institution father and his emancipated teenage daughter venture together on a quest for an ancient Spanish treasure buried beneath their local Costco in this take on the modern family and the American dream.

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Plot Keywords:

spanish | treasure | quest | dream | mental institution | 

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Taglines:

We're All Searching for Something ...

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some strong language, mature thematic elements and brief drug references

Details

Official Sites:

3L Filmverleih [de] Millennium Films [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

12 September 2007 (France)

Also Known As:

El rey de California

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$35,814 (USA) (14 September 2007)

Gross:

$263,674 (USA) (26 October 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Millennium Films, Emmett/Furla Films, Nu Image Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min 96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

They actually did film in a Costco, on a working schedule between the hours of 9:00 pm and 9:00 am. Since they were there for such long hours, members of the crew were trying clothes on and looking through the other products so Costco kept a cash register open all night long so that anyone could purchase things.

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Goofs

When they turn on the lights in the dark Costco, it instantly becomes brightly lit. In reality, HID lamps are very dim when first switched on and require several minutes to warm up and reach full brightness.

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Quotes

Charlie: Catastrophe equals opportunity.

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Crazy Credits

Carroll Kales Cahill 1925-2006

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Episode dated 22 September 2007 (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Bouncin' With Bud"
Written by Bud Powell and Walter Fuller
Performed by Bud Powell
Published by Embassy Music Corporation (BMI) and Music Sales Corporation (ASCAP)
Courtesy of Music Sales Corporation
o/b/o/ Storyville, Inc.

User Reviews

Fine Performances In A Slightly Flawed Film

Make no mistake about it. Evan Rachael Wood is fast becoming a most welcome addition to the rising wave of young stars in films today. I totally admired her work in 'Thirteen' (2003),and 'Running With Scissors'(2006). In this one, she plays the daughter of a recently released mental patient (Michael Douglas,sporting an unkempt beard)who is obsessing over buried treasure somewhere in the suburbs of California. Michael Douglas makes his performance as Charles work nicely, acting like a loony that was released from the home a bit too early, in contrast to Wood's anchor that holds things together. The screenplay does contain a few potholes along the way, but not enough to make this worth avoiding.