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The Pest

Play trailer Poster for The Pest PG-13 1997 1h 22m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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4% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Fast-talking Latino con artist Pestario Pest Vargas (John Leguizamo) is the target of Scottish mobsters to whom he owes a considerable debt. Willing to do anything to raise money and avoid severe injury or death, Vargas agrees to a very unusual job -- he will be transported to a remote island and hunted by Gustav Shank (Jeffrey Jones), a racist German executive. If he can survive a full day and night, Vargas gets $50,000 and will be set free. Is he wily enough to elude Shank?
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The Pest

The Pest

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Critics Consensus

The Pest aims for zany comedy with social commentary, misses, and lands squarely at offensive misfire thanks to John Leguizamo's over-caffeinated performance and a script laden with stereotypes.

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Critics Reviews

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Simon Abrams House Next Door It pains me to admit just how obnoxious The Pest is because it has all the ingredients of the kind of guilty pleasure I love. Feb 25, 2011 Full Review Keith Phipps AV Club It seems to be targeted at eight-year-old boys with attention-deficit disorder, and could have been more competently made by any one of them. Aug 4, 2009 Full Review Joe Leydon Variety Pic exists solely to showcase Leguizamo's wild and crazy antics, which are very much an acquired taste. Mar 27, 2009 Full Review Martin Thomas Double Toasted Anything for a laugh, anything to keep it going... Jan 20, 2021 Full Review Korey Coleman Double Toasted Crazy, I'll give it credit for that. Much crazier than I thought it would be, just the premise alone...it's the goofiest, not all of it, but mixed together it combines for the goofiest... Jan 20, 2021 Full Review Ken Fox TV Guide Even surrounded by unbearable sloppiness, Leguizamo is fascinating to watch. Rated: 1.5/4 Aug 4, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Robert S A hilariously irreverent comedic take on the classic novel, "A Most Dangerous Game". The Pest plays on racial and national stereotypes with jokes and impressions that span those gaps in a way that eberyone can laugh at. At the same time, it's damned near a cartoon with more plot holes than a children's show. Personally? I love it. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/06/24 Full Review Chelsea R This movie is 10/10! I watch this movie annually and will continue to until I die. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/20/24 Full Review Paul W It's a ridiculous comedy in the same vain as Ace Ventura, but it didn't resonate nearly as well with audiences at the time, and for that matter I'm not sure most audiences even knew about it. But if you like, goofy, slap stick humor, quick whit, impressions and fart jokes, the Latin Jim Carey ( John Leguizamo ) will deliver. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/14/23 Full Review Marcus M The pest was, and will forever be, one of those movies I will go back and watch. Period. The premise is hilarious, the acting is great, and the overall vibe is something i wish could get a sequel too! Idk if that sentence makes sense fully hahahaha Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/12/23 Full Review Steve D Rarely has a film been less funny. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Kayla J I used to watch this movie every night as a kid, still amazing, John does such a good job and the beginning part takes so much work ! Like one of the best movies Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/18/22 Full Review Read all reviews
The Pest

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Cast & Crew

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Paul Miller

Director

John Leguizamo

Pestario 'Pest' Vargas

Jeffrey Jones

Gustav Shank

Edoardo Ballerini

Himmel Shank

Freddy Rodríguez

Ninja

Tammy Townsend

Xantha Kent

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The Pest

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Movie Info

Synopsis Fast-talking Latino con artist Pestario Pest Vargas (John Leguizamo) is the target of Scottish mobsters to whom he owes a considerable debt. Willing to do anything to raise money and avoid severe injury or death, Vargas agrees to a very unusual job -- he will be transported to a remote island and hunted by Gustav Shank (Jeffrey Jones), a racist German executive. If he can survive a full day and night, Vargas gets $50,000 and will be set free. Is he wily enough to elude Shank?
Director
Paul Miller
Producer
Jonathan Sheinberg, Bill Sheinberg, Sid Sheinberg
Production Co
The Bubble Factory, TriStar Pictures
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.5M
Runtime
1h 22m
Sound Mix
Surround
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