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

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 Bob leaves the room to find the Kahuna at the other party, he has his name tag on, when he is outside walking there, it is off. It reappears when he is at the party, speaking to the Kahuna.

Quotes:

Bob Walker: What if he wants to talk?
Larry Mann: Well, then you talk Bob, you talk as long as he wants, forty days and forty nights, if you have to, until he tires of it. Then you come back here and tell us what happened.
Bob Walker: You'll wait up?
Larry Mann: Till the next fiscal quarter, beyond that I can't make any guarantees.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Binga Banga Bongo

Remarkable acting, excellent character development.

An extremely well done, contained movie. Unlike so much of the standard over the top excesses of much of current Hollywood movies this movie depends on the depth of the characters, particularly Danny De Vito. Rarely have I ever seen an actor change on screen from the inside out like De Vito does. Kevin Spacey gives his normal excellent work, and Peter Facinelli is quite good as an easily recognizable "true believer". But, this movie belongs to Danny De Vito who gives the best performance of his career. Moving exploration of men struggling with meaninglessness.