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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 02/25/2011
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. Go to Full Review Keith Phipps AV Club 08/04/2009
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. Go to Full Review Joe Leydon Variety 03/27/2009
Pic exists solely to showcase Leguizamo's wild and crazy antics, which are very much an acquired taste. Go to Full Review Martin Thomas Double Toasted 01/20/2021
Anything for a laugh, anything to keep it going... Go to Full Review Korey Coleman Double Toasted 01/20/2021
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... Go to Full Review Ken Fox TV Guide 08/04/2009
1.5/4
Even surrounded by unbearable sloppiness, Leguizamo is fascinating to watch. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Tara H @TaraHerrick 2d I grew up on this movie. It’s HA-larious and something my mom and I still quote to this day; after 25 almost 26 years have passed. It’s not for everyone but if you want a good goofy laugh filling movie this is one 🍿 See more Some Guy F Oct 1 I thought it was hilarious when I was 12. Now I just find it annoying. See more Tim M @tgmacman Aug 14 Headlined by a zanily aggravating turn from John Leguizamo, The Pest lives up to its title, ought to be exterminated. See more Siskel E Jun 21 Masterpiece Theater--- Verily, The Pest doth stand as the zenith of all cinematic endeavour, a triumph so profound that even the Muses themselves wouldst weep in awe. The quill of its writer, guided by divine madness, hath penned a script so chaotic and brilliant it rendeth asunder the very notion of narrative convention. Sir Leguizamo delivereth a performance of such alchemical genius that he transmuteth crude jest into purest gold—each antic a sonnet, each belch a soliloquy. Beneath the seeming folly lies a labyrinth of layered identities, a hero's journey cloaked in motley, echoing the tragicomedies of the Bard himself. I, a critic of unassailable wit and refinement, proclaim henceforth that all of cinema must now be measured by the sacred standard of The Pest. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Jun 3 Filme ruim, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são ruins, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom, e eu não recomendo esse filme. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 2 A funny classic in just 1 hour and 22 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more 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

The Pest (1997) The Pest (1997) The Pest (1997) View more photos

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
TriStar Pictures, The Bubble Factory
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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