DVD Mini Review - King of California

Mike Cahill's King of California is one of those Sundance indie comedies that is too quirky for its own good.

Charlie (Michael Douglas) is just released from a mental hospital. His teenage, high school dropout daughter Miranda (Evan Rachel Wood) is there to meet him upon his release. The two are getting reaquainted after several years of Miranda living on her. Her mother abandoned her. Much of the film is basically the two of them playing off each other as they get to know each other again. But Charlie is reading a book that says a great buried treasure sits many feet under a Costco store. And he intends to find it. At first Miranda poo-poos him but he eventually wins her over and she particpates in his scheme.

Douglas and Wood are very good and there is great chemistry between them. But the plot is just so ridiculous. It is highly unbelievable. Wood doesn't look sixteen going on seventeen either. And since she is a minor I would think that social services might have helped her.

Douglas and Wood are fine actors and they deserve better material. Although the film didn't do anything for me I didn't mind watching it. But the main reason to see this film is for the two lead acting performances.