Customer Reviews

The Big Kahuna

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

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.

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.

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...

Concealed in this little hotel room drama are a couple of great performances, one by Spacey as Larry, the other by Danny DeVito, who gives the performance of his career as Phil, the world-weary but amiable marketing rep. At its heart, this movie is about belief systems, what stands to be gained and lost by subscribing to them, and what happens when belief systems come into conflict.

Nearly all of the action (mostly dialogue) takes place in a single hospitality suite in Wichita, Kansas during a tool and die industry convention. Insofar as it lives in the world of American business, this movie belongs to the tradition of stage play-turned-film with "Death of a Salesman" and "Glengarry Glen Ross." What "The Big Kahuna" does is bring the secular religion of American Business into conflict with the spiritual religion of Christianity.

This movie succeeds on the strength of its performances, and due to the fact that it treats all of its characters, despite their differing perspectives, fairly, honestly, and with respect (an unfortunately rare thing in Hollywood moviemaking), and finally it does not try to provide a definitive answer to the difficult questions it raises.

Some art is made truly great by its ability to take something ordinary and show its hidden more-than-ordinary side. To this reviewers mind, that is one of the things - outside of excellent acting and good dialogue - that makes The Big Kahuna a spectacular work of art.

Translated from Roger Rueff's play, "Hospitality Suite," TBK lets us into the world of three salesmen of industrial lubricants before, during, and after, hosting a business party that could make or break their careers. One character is a veteran who is growing weary of the business world. Another is a middle aged 'natural born salesman.' The third is a rookie who is new to the whole thing and is (some would say) naive about the whole business process. Between these three divurgent personalities, sparks fly, waters are tested, and no one is left unscathed.

As said, sometimes art is made great by its abilty to show the 'beneath the surface' side of seemingly ordinary things. In TBK, a business party becomes the vehicle for exploring everything from how much 'humanness' is permitted into the impersonal world of business, what happens when religious ethics show up in the business world, and (?!) even matters of life, death, and whether either has any grande meaning.

Especially, religion is a large element of the film. The youngest character - the newbie - is a religiously committed baptist. The oldest character, by contrast, seems to be going through a crisis of faith and is "wondering about god" in increasing amounts. When an important big-whig doesn't show up to the party, one character urges another to "have faith... for once in your life." And the words "Jesus Christ" are bandied about as everything from a proper name to a nasty exclamation. If nothing else, the invocation of religion into a film about "making the sale" makes for a thrilling tension underlying the entire film.

Others have commented on the acting. All three characters - Peter Facinelli (the newbie), Kevin Spacey (natural-born-salesman) and Danny DeVito (the tired veteran) - all give outstanding performances. All three know their characters very well, making for very reallistic interplay. Despite my efforts, I cannot imagine these roles being played better by any other actors.

If you like films that make you think a bit, taking ordinary things and showing them from angles that make them appear new, then this film is one you should check out. Three characters, one hospitality suite in Wichita, KS, a business party that could make or break careers. Anything can - and does - happen.

Several reviewers, and probably many viewers, have found this movie boring. Perhaps they should watch again, or perhaps they are not very deep individuals. It may help to watch it alone. This is a study of character and of existential philosophy and the conflicts arising from individuals having different perspectives. There's much more here than meets the eye and ear, if you are willing to delve. And if you are so willing, you will be rewarded. If you are not willing (or capable) to delve, then you may likely be ... well, bored (though it should still be entertaining). Even the humor is intellectually subtle, lying slightly below the surface of the obvious.

Danny De Vito's soliloquy, though technically not, because it is spoken to the rookie salesman who is not in view, is delivered as the camera zooms ever closer into the face of the actor, and is the crux of the message, the highlight of the movie, and a wonderful screen moment. Go watch it again...ALONE.

I will concede that I was somewhat irritated by the hokey "Chicken-Soup-for-the-Soul" admonitions that segue from the movie to the credits at the end. Though some of these are interesting, and clever, this touch was bit pretentious. I'd rather have remained in the partial reverie where the movie had left me. I found this last touch to be intrusive.

Still, I can go back and find it ...again. I recommend you try it.

In this dramatic comedy film by John Swanbeck we meet three salesman looking to score the big sale while in Witcheta, KS. This film is the adaptation of the stage play "The Hospitality Suite".

Phil (DeVito) is a guy who has been in the business for a while and in the middle of a divorce. He daydreams of cigars, brandy, and jumping off a high rise. Phil has known Larry (Spacey) for a while and it appears this isthe first time they have been paired up together in a while. Larry is a fast talking, honest (not blunt), and hypertensive salesman. From the moment his mouth opens he is complaining and joking around. Newcomer Peter Facinelli (Can't Hardly Wait, Supernova) plays Bob, the info guy. Bob is NOT a salesman, he just does the R & D for their lubricant company. Bob seems a lot more interested in selling God though.

The entire film takes place in the hospitality suite where they have their company - client mixer. All the while Larry goes on the hunt for the "Big Kahuna", the big sale that brought them to town. Bob is the only one that makes contact with him and it is purely by accident. Now they have to send in the non-salesman to land the deal of their lives.

All 3 actors give outstanding performances in this dramatic satire about God, lubricants, and the proper hors d'vours to serve your clients.

I give Kevin Spacey a ton of respect and credit for being a part of this brilliant film. After "American Beauty" (which I also liked), he could've done anything. Instead he chose to do this low-budget, independent film. As everyone has said up to now, it's essentially about three salesmen (2 who sell a product; another who sells God), who meet in a hotel suite for a sales convention. They talk about everything: business, love, death, sex, marriage, divorce...and God. If you're looking for a film that bravely examines the human condition from a salesman's point of view--this is for you! I was totally moved by this film. I got a lot of stuff out of it. It's interesting to note that whether humans sell a product or God, we're still selling a part of ourselves that we want the buyers to think we are like. Because in truth we're covering up our true identities with a sales pitch. I can't help but think of the Who song: "Can You See The Real Me?" Highly recommended.

Just caught this on Bravo yesterday and found it incredibly provocative...thank God someone has done a movie that exercises the mind and challenges the soul instead of reverting to adolescent attention-grabbing and superficial titillation using silly special effects, gratuitous sex or violence to engage the viewer. I'm buying it to show to colleagues!

I have watched this movie on VHS and the dialogues are truly brilliant.
The acting and also the editing (flow) of the movie is excellent.
It is thought provoking and shows that life is not about being judgemental and critical but living and helping others as best as you can - two people can be right in their own ways. We do not perceive things as they are, but as we are.
The moral conclusion of the movie is left to the viewer to decide.
All the three actors come out as very human.
THIS UNCONVENTIONAL MOVIE GOES TO SHOW THAT BRILLIANT FILMS CAN ALSO BE MADE WITH A SMALL BUDGET, HIGHLIGHTING ENDANGERED HUMAN VALUES AND NON-EXISTENCE OF SPECIAL EFFECTS.