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 | dream | american dream | mental institution | 

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Taglines:

You've got to believe in treasure to find it.

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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 [Germany] Millennium Films [United States]

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

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$35,814, 16 September 2007, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$263,674, 26 October 2007

Company Credits

Production Co:

Millennium Films, Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films (EFO Films), King of California Productions

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

Young Miranda is left handed while older Miranda is right handed.

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Quotes

Miranda: [first lines - narration] Technically what happened wasn't my fault. I'm a minor, I'm not responsible for my actions. Technically.
[alarm sounds, everyone runs]
Miranda: But these things should be taken on a case-by-case basis. In our case, I've always been the responsible party. Someone had to look out for him.

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Crazy Credits

Carroll Kales Cahill 1925-2006

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Connections

References JAG (1995)

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Soundtracks

Summer Breeze
Written by Jimmy Seals and Darrell Crofts
Performed by Seals & Crofts
Published by Sutjujo Music (BMI), Faizilu Publishing (BMI), Songs Of Universal (BMI)
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.
By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

A Tired Script but a Platform for the Skillful Acting of Douglas and Wood

KING OF California may not break any records for innovation of thought or script but it is a tightly made little film that allows veteran actor Michael Douglas a lollipop of a wacky role to remind us that he does have comedic talent! It also gives 20-year old Evan Rachel Wood the opportunity to compete with a Pro and come out an equal - quite a feat for such a young actress. Written and directed by Mike Cahill the story does have appeal, especially since it is set in Santa Clarita, California, a rapidly developing 'hinterland' that is suffering from the effects of too rapid industrialization, changing from a picturesque remnant of California raw beauty into yet another perky little town.

Charlie (Michael Douglas) has been in and out of mental institutions for his wacky behavior. His life as a jazz bassist and entrepreneur has always veered off the map, leaving him alone with his only daughter Miranda who has survived her father's irresponsible life by keeping the old family home (in the midst of a huge housing development) with the money she makes double shifting at the local MacDonalds. When Charlie is released his focus is on discovering the gold left behind by Catholic priests in the mid 1600s, a fact he has researched while hospitalized, on the Internet, and from the journal of one of the priests. Miranda slowly buys into Charlie's madcap scheme and adventure as a gold hunter and the caper results in a bonding between father and daughter that has been teetering on the brink of disaster for years. The manner in which Charlie, Miranda, and an old ex-con friend Pepper (Willis Burks II) go after the treasure provides most of the energy of the film.

Yes, there are bits and pieces of this project that have been done many times before (and often better), but the pleasure of KING OF California lies in the bravura and touching performances by Douglas and Wood. This is a pleasant excursion of a movie, worth an evening's gander. Grady Harp