Movie Review: King's Ransom
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this movie includes raunchy sexual
language, irritating humor at an elderly woman's expense, tired
stereotypes, fart jokes, and ridiculous plotting -- all
potentially offensive for some viewers. While the language is
relatively mild, it is repetitive (frequent uses of "damn,"
"bitch," and "hell" in particular). Characters drink, smoke
cigars and cigarettes, splat condiments (mustard, ketchup) on
one another's faces, and fight verbally and physically. Wealthy
executive Malcolm is selfish and materialistic, loathed by his
wife and employees (who call him a "jackass" more than once),
but as these supporting players are dim, obnoxious, and/or
greedy as well, you're left with no one to like.
Families can discuss the animosity and envy caused by Malcolm's arrogance, or point out the film's use of broad stereotypes. Families might also consider the fact that the protagonist's name -- Malcolm King -- evokes Civil Rights leaders Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr., in ways that can only be described as disappointing.
Common Sense Media Review
Malcolm King (
Anthony
Anderson) first appears as he rolls up to his upscale
Chicago office building, a Mercedes-driving, designer-suited
entrepreneur so egotistical that he imagines employees actually
like him for his personality. His ugliness is only underlined
by his chronic sexual vulgarities, his mistreatment of his
assistant Miss Gladys (Loretta Devine), and his boisterous
laughter at underlings' expense.
The plot of KING'S RANSOM is premised on the fact that everyone who knows Malcolm dislikes him and wants revenge for his meanness. In the midst of an ugly divorce from wife Renee ( Kellita Smith) (who is sleeping with her stuttering "pool boy"). Malcolm fires his competent, cocky Acting Vice President of Marketing, Angela (Nicole Parker), to hire his dim-witted, tight-dressed mistress Peaches ( Regina Hall). As if to add insult to injury, Angela's best friend Kim ( Leila Arcieri) has "found Jesus," meaning she has a "Jesus Saves" tattoo on her breast.
On the other side of town, impoverished Corey (Jay Mohr) resents his chain-smoking, snoring, and farting grandmother (once great actor Jackie Burroughs, sadly reduced to ugly comedic sidekicking) and fears his adopted gangbanger sister Raven (Lisa Marcos), just escaped from prison and threatening him if he doesn't give her money. Variously desperate, Renee, Angela, and Corey plan separately to kidnap Malcolm for ransom, while he and Peaches, along with her paroled brother Herb ( Charlie Murphy), plot his kidnapping themselves, to avoid paying Renee a divorce settlement.
All these plots converge in a mostly unfunny cacophony (save for the masks worn by Angela and her two-girl crew, including Condoleezza Rice and Jesse Jackson); identities are mistaken, promises betrayed, and stereotypes abound (Corey does business with a Chinese pawn shop owner named Miss Ho [Lila Yee] and beats up a Mexican worker at a fast food joint). The plot proceeds loudly and clumsily, leading to no lessons learned and bad behavior rewarded.
Families who enjoy this movie should see the Barbershop movies, Big Momma's House , or Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle , all offering relatively smarter, funnier looks at class, race, and gender roles. If you're looking for a comedy featuring rich folks and divorce troubles, see Intolerable Cruelty , or if you want to see a "kidnapping comedy," try Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over .
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
