Malibu's Most Wanted (2003)

30% of critics liked it
(92 reviews)
53% of users liked it
(50,369 ratings)

A rich kid who likes to pretend he's from the wrong side of the tracks gets a taste of the real thing in this comedy. Brad Gluckman (Jamie Kennedy) is the son of a wealthy and socially prominent couple (Ryan O'Neal and Bo Derek) and grew up in the lap of luxury in Malibu, CA. However, Brad likes to… More A rich kid who likes to pretend he's from the wrong side of the tracks gets a taste of the real thing in this comedy. Brad Gluckman (Jamie Kennedy) is the son of a wealthy and socially prominent couple (Ryan O'Neal and Bo Derek) and grew up in the lap of luxury in Malibu, CA. However, Brad likes to imagine he's a street-smart gangsta from the mean streets of L.A., and he's been trying to launch a career as a hardcore rapper under the name "B-Rad." Mr. Gluckman is running for Governor of California, and both he and his campaign manager (Blair Underwood) are convinced Brad's antics could have a negative impact on the election, so they come up with a scheme to change his mind about the supposed glamour of street life. Mr. Gluckman hires a pair of African-American actors (Taye Diggs and Anthony Anderson) to impersonate a pair of gang-bangers from Compton who carjack Brad's SUV and take him to the 'hood, where he'll learn just how scary the thug life can be. However, it soon becomes obvious the actors don't know much more about life in Compton than Brad does, and as Brad gets used to his new surroundings, he falls for a girl from the neighborhood (Regina Hall) who has her own plans for moving up in the world. Malibu's Most Wanted was inspired by a character Jamie Kennedy created for his sketch comedy series The Jamie Kennedy Experiment. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: John Whitesell
Written By: Fax Bahr, Adam Small, Jamie Kennedy, Nick Swardson
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 18, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Sep 9, 2003
Studio: Warner Bros.

Critic Reviews

Mark Holcomb, Village Voice
Most Wanted isn't aiming for social commentary, but it isn't too difficult to enjoy its good-natured humor.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
Jamie Kennedy's B-Rad is based on a character from his TV show -- and as the centerpiece for a sketch, he's hilarious. But the B-Rad joke wears thin when stretched across a feature-length film.
Jen Chaney, Washington Post
Wanted isn't quite the real Slim Shady of hip-hop comedies. But you might lose yourself in a few of its amusing moments.
Mike Clark, USA Today
Think of a B-grade Bulworth with lesser talents than A-listers Warren Beatty and Halle Berry.
Daphne Gordon, Toronto Star
Maybe in a half-hour format, the idea would stand up. But in a feature film, B-Rad's schtick seems like a one-note song.
C.W. Nevius, San Francisco Chronicle
As a star vehicle for Kennedy, Malibu doesn't advance the ball, but the timing could be perfect to grab the eager-for -the-end -of-school crowd.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Dumb movie, but some funny moments for teens.
Daniel M. Kimmel, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Ryan O'Neal gets more laughs in a few scenes than Chris Rock managed in all of Head of State.
Josh Bell, Las Vegas Weekly
Jamie Kennedy needs to be stopped.
Nick Rogers, State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL)
The movie flirts with incisive, witty segments, but it's ultimately yet another anti-inflammatory comedy about racial identity that devolves into a one-joke affair.
Todd Gilchrist, FilmStew.com
Malibu's Most Wanted absconds with a simplistic but imaginative plot and elevates it beyond the realm of sketch comedy into legitimate cinematic territory - for real, y'all.
Stephen Himes, Film Snobs
Not as inspired as White Boyz.
Karina Montgomery, Cinerina
I laughed during the whole movie...the trick to stupid comedy is earnestness - these guys have that out the wazoo.
Forrest Hartman, Reno Gazette-Journal
The problem with Most Wanted has plagued most of the Saturday Night Live movies. What's funny in a five-minute sketch, may not be funny for an hour and a half.
Michael Szymanski, Zap2it.com
The funniest part of the movie are the out-takes at the end, but those aren't worth the price of admission, wait for the DVD.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

moon r

Jaime Kennedy's magnum opus about a white kid/wannabe/ghetto hood makes valid social commentary while garnering a few chuckles. Its point is made by the fact that everyone by now knows a least one somebody "keepin it real!" who really ain't, but don't know it… More
Jaime Kennedy's magnum opus about a white kid/wannabe/ghetto hood makes valid social commentary while garnering a few chuckles. Its point is made by the fact that everyone by now knows a least one somebody "keepin it real!" who really ain't, but don't know it yet.
Lorenzo v

"Don't be hatin'" A senator arranges for his son, a rich white kid who fancies himself black, to be kidnapped by a couple of black actors pretending to be murderers to try and shock him out of his plans to become a rapper.… More
"Don't be hatin'" A senator arranges for his son, a rich white kid who fancies himself black, to be kidnapped by a couple of black actors pretending to be murderers to try and shock him out of his plans to become a rapper. <center>REVIEW</center> Great premise, but they managed to muck it up. This flick was big on stereotypes; small on imagination. A lot of the humor was sophomoric and crass; indicating a not- too - mature writing staff. Some adult supervision would have greatly enhanced this predictable bore. The casting was great - all the main characters were quite capable and the movie did have its moments. Jamie Kennedy had the rap-wannabe dialect down. The movie quickly became bogged down with racial stereotyping, however: hostile blacks, lots of guns, women as sex objects. This film had lots of potential - it just needed some direction and, in the end, originality. The word "bitch" was used so frequently as it would indicate that the script writer received royalties for it. "Bitch", "bee-och"; it quickly graduated from offensive to nauseating.
Bobby H

This movies hilarious! It's 100% worth watching.
Burger S

"Don't do it Bloodbath!"
Joseph E

While this film is promising in it's setup, it just doesn't stay fly throughout the film's entirety, but some solid performances, and scenes make it what it is, straight up hilarious.
Deb S

Don't be hating! B-Rad's in the house! Jamie Kennedy plays B-Rad, a white guy who acts like he is black. Overall, Malibu is a hilarious comedy. There's one particular part when B-Rad and his sidekick`s were ambushed by a rival gang; he's firing guns and when asked… More
Don't be hating! B-Rad's in the house! Jamie Kennedy plays B-Rad, a white guy who acts like he is black. Overall, Malibu is a hilarious comedy. There's one particular part when B-Rad and his sidekick`s were ambushed by a rival gang; he's firing guns and when asked where he learnt to shoot like that and he replies Grand Theft Auto 3. Another high light of the movie was when all the gang members in the house were facing the crew of Malibu people holding a whale harpoon and a rocket launcher. This movie was kind of stupid. I'll admit it but I found it outrageously funny. My guilty pleasure!
Miriam K

Ridiculous plot line but it did have its moments. . . An attempt to send the message of be your self to the audience that needs it the most. . .
Leo L

Hilarious!
Anthony V

Very uneven.

Read all 9 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Jamie Kennedy as Brad Gluckman

            Taye Diggs as Sean

            Anthony Anderson as PJ

            Regina Hall as Shondra

            Blair Underwood as Tom Gibbsons

            Damien Dante Wayans as Tec

            Ryan O'Neal as Bill Gluckman

            Bo Derek as Bess Gluckman

            Jeffrey Tambor as Dr. Feldman

            Kal Penn as Hadji

            Nick Swardson as Mocha

            Keili Lefkowitz as Monster

            Kellie Martin as Jen

            Greg Grunberg
            
            J.P. Manoux
            
            Howard Mann as Uncle Louie

            Curtis Blanck as 13 yr. Old Brad

            Tristan Jarred as 7 yr. Old Brad

            Kody Coye as Toddler Brad

            Niecy Nash
            
            Terry Crews as 8 Ball

            Tory Kittles as Deuce

            Noel Guglielmi as Snuffy

            Rey Gallegos as Loc

            Damion Poitier as Tec's Crew

            Jo Deodato Clark as Saleswoman

            Suzy Nakamura as Reporter

            Snoop Dogg as Ronnie Rizzat

            James Kiriyama Lem as Korean Man

            Felli Fel as Himself

            Hi-C as Himself

            Young Dre as Himself

            Bigg Steele as Himself

            Drop Da Bomb as Himself

            Hal Fishman as Himself

            Big Boy as Himself

            Keesha Sharp as Sister #1

            Rhona L. Bennett as Sister #2

            Ken Lawson as African American Aid

            Sarah Thompson as Krista the Barista

            Michael Quill as Mike the Reporter

            Christa Campbell as Angry Feminist

            Giuliana Rancic
            
            Ecco Morgan as Sandy

            Nikki Martinez as Escalade Dancer #1

            Mary Nelson as Escalade Dancer #2
See full cast