The Pest (1997)

9% of critics liked it
(23 reviews)
62% of users liked it
(30,208 ratings)

A man discovers the lighter side of being hunted down like an animal in this manic comedy. Pestario "Pest" Vargas (John Leguizamo) is a low-rent con man from Miami's South Beach who has fallen deeply in debt to ill-tempered members of the Scottish mafia (complete with kilts). Desperate to raise… More A man discovers the lighter side of being hunted down like an animal in this manic comedy. Pestario "Pest" Vargas (John Leguizamo) is a low-rent con man from Miami's South Beach who has fallen deeply in debt to ill-tempered members of the Scottish mafia (complete with kilts). Desperate to raise $50,000 to stave off having his legs broken (and possibly turned into haggis), Vargas takes an offer for a very high paying one day job from Gustav Shank (Jeffrey Jones), a German businessman visiting Florida. However, it's not until later that Vargas finds out what Shank has in mind. The lunatic white supremacist Shank transports Vargas to his island compound, Little Germany, and announces that he will hunt him as wild game. If Vargas can survive for 24 hours, he gets the cash; otherwise, his head will join the others stuffed and mounted on Shank's wall. Can Vargas' speed, agility, and gift for cheesy impersonations save him now? John Leguizamo co-wrote The Pest's original story, loosely based on the classic adventure tale The Most Dangerous Game. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 24 min.
Directed By: Paul Miller
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 7, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Jun 13, 2000
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Joe Leydon, Variety
Pic exists solely to showcase Leguizamo's wild and crazy antics, which are very much an acquired taste.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
When Mr. Leguizamo isn't doing third-rate ethnic parody, he is wallowing in scatological jokes that are so poorly prepared and executed that they make similar antics by Mr. Carrey play like classic routines.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
Talented and versatile actor-comedian John Leguizamo indulges himself so totally with incessant mugging, mimicking and all-around showing off that he begins to wear out his welcome before the opening credit sequence is over.
Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle
This film is utterly without discipline or focus in a way that -- to one's shame --one eventually finds oddly endearing.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
Obviously, someone must have told Leguizamo he's a comic genius. Whoever did that isn't his friend.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
It's the kind of movie where every paying customer deserves to receive a handwritten apology from the producers.
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.
Ken Fox, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Even surrounded by unbearable sloppiness, Leguizamo is fascinating to watch.
Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle
Pass that can of Black Flag, hon.
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
If you have any doubt that John Leguizamo is not funny, this movie will handily reinforce that notion.
Dwayne E. Leslie, Boxoffice Magazine
The script and Leguizamo's talents don't mesh, so the actor comes off as more offensive than funny.
Leslie Rigoulot, Film Scouts
There is not a socioeconomic, political, ethnic or gender group that is left unoffended.
, E! Online
Essentially a collection of ethnic and bodily function jokes punctuated by chases.
Mark Bazer, Boston Phoenix
This movie defies review. To critique it would be like writing about a restaurant that only serves birdseed. Of course, humans don't like birdseed -- it's not meant for our species.
Louis B. Hobson, Jam! Movies
By their nature, pests are meant to get under your skin and this one certainly does.
Madeleine Williams, Cinematter
A revoltingly bad stinker that is easily in the running for the worst film of the decade.

Read all 16 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lucas M

Fun and unforgettable. The thing is: The Pest is terrible dumb, and totally bad written. Rotten.
Wahida K

Lets Skip this one.
Coxxie M

i rented this one time and because of that, i really dont care to talk about it
Justin Y

I'm sure you have seen <i>Ace Ventura: Pet Detective</i>. Well, this is John Leguizamo's Ace Ventura character. I'll admit that the plot is as dumb as can be, but the movie itself will keep you laughing with all the ridiculous stuff that happens (A jeep… More
I'm sure you have seen <i>Ace Ventura: Pet Detective</i>. Well, this is John Leguizamo's Ace Ventura character. I'll admit that the plot is as dumb as can be, but the movie itself will keep you laughing with all the ridiculous stuff that happens (A jeep turning into a gigantic sound system?). John Leguizamo does an excellent job portraying a "hyper-active idiot" and you will see that he can act on both sides of the spectrum. A lot of people will find this movie to be irritating, but I, along with a few others, find this movie hilariously entertaining. Just look at the cover.
Emily A

This movie is idiotic, but that doesn't mean it's bad. It's pretty damn funny, but be warned, it meanders.
Joseph E

Kind of funny.
Leo L

Very funny!
FanGirl B

I loved this movie when I was younger, I'm not sure I would anymore. I still say 'scareded' sometimes.