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Les aventures de l'escamoteur

Original title: The Pest
  • 1997
  • PG-13
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
4.8/10
9.6K
YOUR RATING
John Leguizamo in Les aventures de l'escamoteur (1997)
Home Video Trailer from Columbia Tristar
Play trailer1:49
1 Video
24 Photos
Comedy

A Miami con man agrees to be the human target for a Neo-Nazi manhunter in order to collect $50,000 if he survives.A Miami con man agrees to be the human target for a Neo-Nazi manhunter in order to collect $50,000 if he survives.A Miami con man agrees to be the human target for a Neo-Nazi manhunter in order to collect $50,000 if he survives.

  • Director
    • Paul Miller
  • Writers
    • David Bar Katz
    • John Leguizamo
  • Stars
    • John Leguizamo
    • Jeffrey Jones
    • Edoardo Ballerini
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.8/10
    9.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Paul Miller
    • Writers
      • David Bar Katz
      • John Leguizamo
    • Stars
      • John Leguizamo
      • Jeffrey Jones
      • Edoardo Ballerini
    • 150User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    The Pest
    Trailer 1:49
    The Pest

    Photos24

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    Top cast38

    Edit
    John Leguizamo
    John Leguizamo
    • Pest
    Jeffrey Jones
    Jeffrey Jones
    • Gustav
    Edoardo Ballerini
    Edoardo Ballerini
    • Himmel
    Freddy Rodríguez
    Freddy Rodríguez
    • Ninja
    • (as Freddy Rodriguez)
    Tammy Townsend
    Tammy Townsend
    • Xantha Kent
    Aries Spears
    Aries Spears
    • Chubby
    Joe Morton
    Joe Morton
    • Mr. Kent
    Charles Hallahan
    Charles Hallahan
    • Angus
    Tom McCleister
    Tom McCleister
    • Leo
    Ivonne Coll
    Ivonne Coll
    • Gladyz
    Pat Skipper
    Pat Skipper
    • Glen Livitt
    Jorge Luis Abreu
    • Piercer
    • (as Jorge Luis Abrell)
    Jennifer Broughton
    • Bank Employee
    Yau-Gene Chan
    • Cook
    • (as Yau Gene Chan)
    Judyann Elder
    Judyann Elder
    • Mrs. Kent
    Paul Harris
    • Karaoke Singer
    Joe Jokubeit
    • Laphroig
    David Bar Katz
    David Bar Katz
    • White Guy
    • Director
      • Paul Miller
    • Writers
      • David Bar Katz
      • John Leguizamo
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews150

    4.89.6K
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    Featured reviews

    6Staack117

    Hints of genius few and far in between.

    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.
    vchimpanzee

    Leguizamo appealing, stereotypes may offend

    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.
    6nightreignentertainment

    Why so SERIOUS!?

    If nothing else... It's f###ing hilarious how many well thought out hate comments this movie has prompted. Heck, even if it truly is the WORST movie you have ever seen in your entire life, that surely makes it worth viewing to see what qualities stand out at the very bottom. It is absurd, stupid humor. You are too caught up on bashing the pest being a grating pest you prolly miss alot of this silly one liners. And yes, thebsheer level of the rediculous makes best rediculous quick bits fly by missed. But c'mon, you are watching a movie called The Pest, were you expecting a witty and intellectual gem? This is that movie where you gotta laugh because it's just so effing stupid and over the top. You want tip? Go buy honda stock. A scottish mob!?!? Go in knowing it's just for s#!ts and giggles. Don't expect FREAK or his structured one man shows. Expect MAD magazine or something.
    mr.pink-4

    SHOOT the Director

    I rented this movie,,,I felt like hanging myself with the tape,but I was sure it would have been crap to,and it would have broke.This was one of the WORST movies I have ever seen,Its in my top 10 of worst movies ever.Sad to say I have seen better movies late night on HBO,You know the ones with the storyline which goes: Dancer must chace down inner city thugs,who have captured her friend who was involved in selling drugs.Those are usually the worst movies ever,but The Pest goes far beyond,,It is perhaps the most annoying movie ever made,,Sadly in 25 years it will probely be looked at as a campy,"they meant to make it bad" movie,and people will search it down and buy it up,and a special edition DVD will come out with the director saying "As I was making this film,I knew we were on to something,,John is a genious,a comedic ghandi",,There will be special deleted scense which they had "just found",which will be the worst pieces of celluloid ever shot,,What can I say ,,I mean HOW did it get as many stars as it did,,AHHHHH,,People are nuts
    rabbit91

    Mad Excellent, Mad Excellent

    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! *****

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Leguizamo was actually bitten by the snake during one of the takes where the snake is slithering up his leg. When the snake bit him, it wouldn't let go, so the trainer had to pry it off of his leg. When it finally got off, John was rushed to the hospital to remove the fangs which were still stuck in his leg.
    • Goofs
      When Pest is at Zantha's house his tracking device placed on his person heats up and shorts out due to moisture, yet after escaping on the boat with Himmel, Pest swims to shore/the pool party and then at the pool party swims in the pool.
    • Quotes

      Pest: So, you started a few wars. a-ite? Okay, you actually you started every war, but I mean who's counting; it's not like you ever won one, right?

      [laughs and pulls Leo's pants down]

      Leo: Ve kicked France's ass.

      Pest: Oh please, like who hasn't?

    • Connections
      Featured in The Nostalgia Critic: The Pest (1997) (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      The Pest (Voodoo Mambo)
      Written by Richard Rudolph (as Richard Rudolph), Michael Sembello, John Leguizamo,

      Romany Malco (as Rom Malco)

      Produced by Richard Rudolph (as Richard Rudolph) and Michael Sembello

      Performed by John Leguizamo

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    FAQ19

    • How long is The Pest?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 7, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Pest
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Papazian-Hirsch Entertainment International
      • The Bubble Factory
      • TriStar Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,600,616
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,817,278
      • Feb 9, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,600,616
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 24 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    John Leguizamo in Les aventures de l'escamoteur (1997)
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