California King

I gave this a 9 just to even out the ridiculously low ratings here. This movie is no Shawshank Redemption but it's also not pretending to be. There is a simple plot (kidnapping gone awry trope) that quickly becomes anything but simple as the story unravels. Getting to the ending is worth the ride. The characters are goofy but likeable. Bonus points seeing Joel McHale cast as the irate yet dashing antagonist. Jimmy Tatro (giving some Markie Wahlberg energy) and Travis Bennett may not provide big, bold laughs but there are laughs nonetheless. Briana Price acts as the new but grounding sheriff in town. If you enjoy buddy-cop comedies or the highs and lows of "bro" friendships, then settle in for an easy and fun watch.

I LOVED California King. It was such an easy, fun watch. They just don't make movies like this anymore. Jimmy Tatro is absolutely hilarious and pairs super well with Travis. The plot is genius and character development is awesome - especially for a low budget film. Victoria Justice crushes it as always and the writing and script is on point. Can't believe this is the writer/directors first feature - can't wait to watch many more films from him. I think comedies these day try to be too deep, and I love how effortless California King was - it's the type of humor that everyone enjoys. I will be watching it again shortly!

I enjoyed watching this film. Jimmy Tatro has always been hilarious on YouTube and it translates well to a full-length movie. There's good chemistry between Travis Bennett, Tatro, and the rest of the cast. The plot is like an onion - it's layered and operates on multiple levels to keep you engaged. Visuals and music were strong points for me. It probably had no where near the budget of a Hollywood blockbuster, but the director made it worth the attention of Hollywood execs and casual filmgoers. It really left me with a memorable message to take home, which is more than I can say with many movies I've seen recently. Refreshing and fun.