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:

Lubricant | Salesman | Hotel | Convention | Religion

Awards:

1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Wed. July 15

2:30 AM

MAX

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

Color:

Color

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: A man hasn't any idea what his soul looks like until he gazes into the eyes for the woman that he's married to. And then, if he's any kind of decent human being, he spends the next couple of days throwing up. Because no honest man can stand that image.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Binga Banga Bongo

Well done, great acting

Would you sell your soul to sell industrial lubricants? Based on a stage play called 'Hospitality suite', The Big Kahuna contains only 3 main actors in this movie who all give powerful performances.

Spacey as the no nonsense take no prisoners step on em when he's down salesman, DeVito as his colleague who's had enough and thinks he's wasted his life going from nameless towns, and boring hotel rooms, and the young up and coming Peter Facinelli as the 6 month newcomer who is like a babe in the woods, but has a strong spiritual side and stronger convictions than anyone else.

Spacey is great as always, and Facinelli is very believable as the devout Baptist. But it is DeVito who steals this movie in what has to be the best role I have ever seen him portray. A funny expose and what it means to be truly successful and happy in career and life. Kahuna scores high!

This movie has just great dialogue, and some incredibly memorable lines most of it coming from Spacey who keeps hitting Facinelli over his head with his sharp brute and dirty yet smart mouth.

A definite must see for 2000.

Rating 8 out of 10.