Is The Three Kings Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (1987)

📖 The Core Premise

With the release of The Three Kings (1987), audiences are invited back into the world of Family, Fantasy, Drama. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "The made-for-TV film stars Jack Warden, Lou Diamond Phillips and Stan Shaw as three patients in a Los Angeles-area mental institution. Dressed as the Three Wise Men for a Christmas pageant, the trio is suddenly struck with the delusion that they are really their Biblical counterparts on a quest to find the Baby Jesus. As TV cameras grind away, the three ersatz Kings surreptitiously ride out of the gates of the asylum—on camels—and into the mean streets of LA. As the story draws to its conclusion, the three escapees find themselves providing a Christmas miracle (but not in the form of rap) for a group of homeless people on the outskirts of the city."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. Unfortunately, Tiana Alexandra feels underutilized in a role that lacks depth. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Family. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is The Three Kings worth your time? If you appreciate Family, Fantasy, Drama films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, The Three Kings misses the mark on several fronts. With a runtime of 96 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Skip It.