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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Two salesmen (Danny DeVito and Oscar winner Kevin Spacey) and a company researcher (Peter Facinelli) set up shop in a hotel suite in Wichita, Kansas, on a business trip. They hope to sell their particular brand of industrial lubricants to the elusive Mr. Fuller. Spacey and DeVito are seasoned pros, while Facinelli is excited about his first business trip. DeVito is going through some kind of mid-life crisis; Spacey is all about the sale and little else; and the new kid is naive, moral, and extremely religious. Once the characters are established, nothing much happens. They talk. They prepare for their sales party, and they talk. The event starts, but the movie quickly cuts to the mess in the room afterward so they can talk about what happened during the party. Even when Facinelli is given an invite to hang out with Mr. Fuller at a private party, the camera stays behind in the hotel room to listen to Spacey and DeVito talk. Talk talk talk. Based on the play by Roger Rueff, who also wrote the screenplay, The Big Kahuna never really feels like a movie, probably because it's all talk and no story, set in a hospitality suite that increasingly feels like a prison. --Andy Spletzer
Product Description
Kevin Spacey, Danny DeVito. Three salesmen attending a convention must make a major sale to the big kahuna" to save their floundering company. 1999/color/91 min/R/widescreen.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 45 people found the following review helpful
Format: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.
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format: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.
29 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format: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...
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Big Kahuna
Here are some thing about Peter Facinelli
Peter Facinelli (born November 26, 1973) is an American actor. He became known as the star of FOX's 2002 television series Fastlane. Read more
Peter Facinelli (born November 26, 1973) is an American actor. He became known as the star of FOX's 2002 television series Fastlane. Read more
Published on February 21, 2010 by tahnee
A Play with Cameras
Ok. Here's an interesting question. You see a movie starring actors that you know and like. You have never heard abotu the movie before. What happened? Read more
Published on November 28, 2009 by Ricky Pooski
Kevin spacey at his best
Outstanding dialogue and very deep insight into how religion, whether muslim, christian, jewish or any other kind, can bring us back to the dark ages, unless of course it was God's... Read more
Published on October 10, 2009 by N. janus
The Big Kahuna
For any fan of Kevin Spacey this is a must see film. As a chamber piece it it snaps with excellent performances from all actors. Read more
Published on June 29, 2008 by Jason Setterington
Perfect casting!
This adaptation of Roger Rueff's play does not add more action just because it is in movie format. While not an action/adventure flick, this movie packs some really dramatic... Read more
Published on March 2, 2008 by Lori Houston
One of the best movies ever made!
For a movie that basically takes place in a hotel room the entire time this movie is great in every since of the word. Read more
Published on March 26, 2007 by P. Apokotos
How Suite It Ain't
As a rule, I enjoy films based on plays because they frequently retain the discipline of theatre and avoid the cheap, sleazy, lazy, and gratuitous attention-getting devices for... Read more
Published on October 26, 2006 by El Lagarto
Meaning Beneath The Surface!
Some art is made truly great by its ability to take something ordinary and show its hidden more-than-ordinary side. Read more
Published on May 20, 2006 by Kevin Currie-Knight
Well done, but nothing really new in this familiar salesman story.
This 1999 film, which has the feeling of a play, stars Kevin Spacy and Danny DeVito. The setting is a hotel room in Wichita, Kansas. Read more
Published on October 19, 2005 by Linda Linguvic
4-star hotel
Basically a filmed play - but so what? It is a production. So was "Driving Miss Daisy" a play with just three actors. Read more
Published on August 24, 2005 by Stephen Garramone
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