The Big Kahuna (1999)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

John Swanbeck

Writers:

Roger Rueff (play)
Roger Rueff (screenplay)

Release Date:

28 April 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Tagline:

Every sale begins with a smile.

Plot:

Two veteran salesman dissect a sales pitch to a particular client, through their young protege.

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Convention | Lubricant | Salesman | Hotel Bellman

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Kevin Spacey	...	Larry Mann
Danny DeVito	...	Phil Cooper (as Danny Devito)
Peter Facinelli	...	Bob Walker
Paul Dawson	...	Bellboy

Also Known As:

Hospitality Suite (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #36883) | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | Netherlands:12 (DVD rating) | Netherlands:6 | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:IIA | Peru:PT | Spain:7 | UK:15 | Norway:15 | Denmark:15 | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | Canada:18A

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Franchise Pictures

Goofs:

Continuity: When Larry attacks Bob he pushes him on a table with food and juice glasses. But when Bob gets up a moment later there are no stains on the back of his white shirt.

Quotes:

Phil Cooper: It doesn't matter whether you're selling Jesus or Buddha or civil rights or 'How to Make Money in Real Estate With No Money Down.' That doesn't make you a human being; it makes you a marketing rep. If you want to talk to somebody honestly, as a human being...

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2000-05-13)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) Mix

Spacey Good, DeVito Great

Some movies are little more than photographed stage plays. 'The Big Kahuna' is like that. Most of the scenes are set in one hotel room and only 4 people have any lines. It could be said that all they do is talk, philosophize, and soul-search in this film. So if what they talk about is interesting and moves you, then the movie works. With subject matter such as religion, friendship, finding a meaning in life, and even the art of salesmanship, the characters definitely have a lot to say. And they're pretty funny, even if the film is too tragic to be called a comedy. Bottom line is, I'll long remember Danny DeVito's touching, understated performance.

He and Kevin Spacey (Phil and Larry, respectively) play experienced industrial lubricant salesman who've been sent to a convention in Wichita. Accompanying the two longtime friends and colleagues is a young co-worker, Bob (Peter Facinelli). They're hosting a small party in their hospitality suite for the elusive Dick Fuller. This is a client who could conceivably make or break their careers, but might not even show up to talk biz. Fuller represents the title character, although you could also say the kahuna is God. The final third of the picture delves deeply into spiritual belief and the search for the man above. Facinelli is devout, Spacey is not, DeVito rides in the middle lane and tries to keep the peace.

Whether or not they actually make the big deal plays second fiddle to the give-and-take relationship of the 3 very different men. Spacey is as witty and smart as usual, but DeVito is the soul of 'The Big Kahuna'. He's been good before, but he's generally a comic actor. Here, he's the straight man. The writer and director (Roger Rueff and John Swanbeck, who've never made another film) know how to give Spacey his big scenes and they REALLY know how to let DeVito play everything in expressions and tone. The filmmakers aren't breaking new turf, but they let their excellent actors act. Even if this is just another verse in the 'Death Of A Salesman' song, DeVito's got the goods on Willy Loman.