Year: 2007
Runtime: 93 min
Language: English
Director: Mike Cahill
A sixteen-year-old girl's carefully constructed world is disrupted when her father unexpectedly returns from a mental institution. He’s fixated on finding the lost treasure of Spanish explorer Juan Florismarte Garces, and convinces her to join his quest. Their unusual search for gold leads them on an adventure that takes them as far as a local Costco, challenging Miranda's independence and forcing both of them to deal with unresolved issues from their past.
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At just fifteen years old, Miranda, portrayed by Evan Rachel Wood, has faced far more than her fair share of trials and tribulations. After being abandoned by her mother, she has dropped out of school and is now trying to make ends meet by working at McDonald’s. Meanwhile, her father, Charlie, played by Michael Douglas, finds himself in a mental institution.
When Charlie is finally released and returns home, Miranda’s previously serene existence spirals into chaos. He becomes consumed by a new obsession: the belief that the lost treasure of the Spanish explorer Father Juan Florismarte Garces is buried in the vicinity of their suburban California neighborhood. With a metal detector and a mountain of treasure-hunting literature at his side, Charlie is convinced that he has pinpointed the location of the buried gold—right beneath the local Costco.
In an effort to support her father’s newfound obsession, Charlie urges Miranda to take a job at Costco, where they can formulate a plan for after-hours excavation. Although initially doubtful, Miranda gradually finds herself swept up in her father’s eccentric schemes, embracing the adventure as a chance to help him rekindle his dreams.
This tale evolves into a darkly comedic yet surprisingly hopeful exploration of the modern family dynamics and the pursuit of the American dream, as Miranda joins Charlie in a whirlwind of questionable decisions, all fueled by the hope of uncovering long-hidden treasures and restoring both their lives.
Last Updated: September 07, 2025 at 00:56
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