Les aventures de l'escamoteur

"The Pest" has moments of mind-numbing stupidity (and at least five fart jokes too many). It's also offensive in its homophobic attitude, and its anti-German sentiments are so strong that you would think the script was written in 1940. But it still is a very easy film to watch, because it looks slick, it moves fast, and it has one hell of a driving music beat to it. It also has some hints of surrealism (the "dueling car stereos" scene), and does make you laugh a couple of times: not so much with Leguizamo's "impressions" (which are mostly awful), but at other, rather unexpected moments (the "Stop repeating what I'm saying! I mean it!" scene). I'd say it generally makes you laugh more often than many other comedies that have a higher reputation. (**1/2)

I found this movie Very enjoyable. I was laughing out loud and I really enjoyed the humor of it. If you are familiar with John Leguizamo's comedy and you are a fan of it this movie is a must see. It is a take on the novel "The Most Dangerous Game" and it focuses on the event's Pestario (Leguizamo) must overcome such as the fact the Scottish mob is after him, a crazy German nazi, Gustav, (Jeffrey Jones) is hunting him, and Gustav's homosexual son ,Himmel (Edoardo Ballerini), who is obsessed with "snakes", is obsessed with him too! This comedy moves fast yet is highly enjoyable!

I love this movie it is my second favourite comedy movie of all time. This movie is definitely not for film snobs who would probably deny the brilliance of this film even though it follows in the comedic direction of the pink panther films. Please please see it! *****

Pest is more than Pestario Vargas' nickname; it's what he is. At the movie's start, as his family waits impatiently outside the bathroom door, Pest is rapping in the shower, imitating characters ranging from Ricky Ricardo to Jerry Lewis' Nutty Professor.

Pest works as a delivery boy at Mr. Cheung's Chinese restaurant in Miami. But he seems to make most of his money from scams, as we see in the first few minutes after the shower concert.

Pest owes $50,000 to Scottish mobster Angus. He needs a miracle, and he may have found one when Gustav offers him a chance at $50,000 if Pest will go on a hunting trip with Gustav, Leo and Gustav's son Himmel. Poor Himmel can't please his cruel father, who once locked him in a room with a snake. He finds enjoyment in 'Hogan's Heroes' reruns, which apparently remind him of his own life.

Pest's best friends are Chubbs and Ninja. His girlfriend is Xantha Kent, whose best friend is Malaria. Pest's first meeting with Xantha's parents doesn't go well at all.

I found John Leguizamo appealing and funny, but I can easily see how one might get annoyed with him. He pretended to be blind, Chinese, Japanese, German, and even Jewish. If you find 'Family Guy' offensive, you are advised to stay away from this movie, which relies heavily on stereotypes and politically incorrect humor. But 'Family Guy' is one of my favorite shows, even though it occasionally goes too far for my taste. This movie might have too, but it was cleaned up for TV.

The movie got off track about halfway through, but it didn't continue with the same storyline for as long as I expected, which was a relief. The rest of the movie was much better.

It's not a great comedy, but for some of us it is a good laugh.

Obviously this didn't win any awards for excellency, but it wasn't that horrible of a movie either. It showed bits and pieces of comedic genius mixed in with lowbrow and downright idiotic slapstick. Could this be a deeper and uncomfortable view into the twisted mind of Leguizamo (who must have been on a diet of sugar and caffeine throughout the filming of The Pest)? For what it's worth, about 20 minutes into the movie I wanted to kill his character, Pest. Hopefully that's what the writer intended... It was worth the $1.50 I paid for it, but it wouldn't last 1 second against true comedic genius like Pee Wee's Big Adventure.