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44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Quiet brilliance, December 1, 2001
This review is from: The Big Kahuna (DVD)
This movie is essentially a filmed play. I won't waste time discussing the plot, which is already well-covered by other reviews. DeVito and Spacey turn out great performances, as can be expected. Spacey dons his usual sharp tongue to play Larry, while DeVito steps out of his typical obnoxious wiseguy skin to play Phil, a quiet man unsure about his life and spirituality. The surprise here is Peter Facinelli, a young Tom Cruise look-alike (humorously alluded to in a scene where his character imagines himself tending bar, a la "Cocktail") who holds his own against the two venerable veterans. He plays a young, idealistic and deeply pious newcomer to the business scene, Bob. Other critics have described him as arrogant, but he's not--his religious convictions simply run so deeply he honestly can't understand those who disagree with him. The abrasive and vulgar Larry provides Bob with a sort of guilty fascination; Larry is clearly brilliant, but is just as clearly not a church-goer. The film finds a believable and gripping tone with which to question faith and spirituality, and concludes that all three men are spiritual in their own way: Larry finds meaning through his job, Bob through Christ, and Phil lies somewhere inbetween, tired of the charade of his career but unsure how to continue. DeVito has the two most powerful scenes. In the first, he bares his heart to Larry, reminiscing about a poignant, haunting childhood dream. In the second, he lectures Bob, reminding him that he hasn't lived enough to be so sure of himself. You don't have to be religious or deeply spiritual to enjoy this film, only thoughtful. "The Big Kahuna" is a succinct, quiet, and surprisingly affecting film.
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22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An underrated classic, April 2, 2001
This review is from: The Big Kahuna (DVD)
I'm not an intellectual or a serious film buff by any stretch of the imagination; I've never seen an Orson Wells film and I can't wax philosophical for six hours about what makes a movie "good". I'm willing to admit that "good" and "bad" are subjective, matters of opinion. I can say, though, that it's a shame that more movies like The Big Kahuna aren't made--movies that are driven by characters and dialogue rather than hackneyed story lines. This play-based indie flick centers around three disheartened lubricant salesmen holed up in a hospitality suite, where they discuss everything from marriage and business to spirituality and God. That's the basic plot in a nutshell. Lesser actors could've ruined the film, but pros like Kevin Spacey and Danny DeVito make it shine. Spacey in particular, whose career started on the stage, makes the most of his role and creates one of the wittiest and most memorable characters I've seen in a long time. With the simplest premise, this movie has a lot to say about society and the human condition in general. It's intelligent without trying to be, and that's what makes it great.
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29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Clever Kahuna, October 6, 2000
This review is from: The Big Kahuna (DVD)
Moviegoers as a whole are so used to films consisting of big budgets,computer special f/x, loud extravaganzas that when something intellectually stimulating comes along they don't recognize it even if it bites them in the bum (including myself).The film-going or video-watching community is so inundated with large sounds and visuals that we often miss some of the most powerful or food for thought dialogue in films like the Big Kahuna.Whether there is one message or many messages to derive from on the meaning of life the great thing about the Big Kahuna is that there is never a dull moment of dialogue or conversation. Kevin Spacey delivers a great and genuine performance as well as DeVito. The fantasy/imagination scenes are some of the most comical seen in any movie for quite some time. My favorite quote or dialogue from any scene is between Spacey and Facinelli about seeing what the young business man can bring to the table, "You'll never know unless you throw me in the water and see if I can swim." Spacey's character replies,"You're missing the point. We're going to throw you off the cliff and see if you can fly!..."Also, Devito's monologue speech about his dream or nightmare he had as a child of God hiding in the closet is classic.The added plus is that this movie does not drag to 2-2 1/2 hours.It's 90 minutes with a clear message;Be human and make the most of your life---not very profound, but still a great message ! In the end of this film you wonder if the title of the film is referring to Spacey's character, the wealthy corporate business man they are trying to lure for their lubricant product, or God...
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