The Big Kahuna (1999)

Two veteran salesmen dissect a sales pitch to a particular client, through their young protégé.

Director:

John Swanbeck

Writers:

Roger Rueff (screenplay), Roger Rueff (play)

Stars:

Kevin Spacey, Danny DeVito, Peter Facinelli

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Kevin Spacey	...	Larry Mann
Danny DeVito	...	Phil Cooper (as Danny Devito)
Peter Facinelli	...	Bob Walker
Paul Dawson	...	Bellboy

Storyline

On the last evening of a convention two seen-it-all industrial lubricant salesmen and a youngster from the research department gather in the hotel's hospitality suite to host a delegates party. The main aim is to get the business of one particular big fish. When it becomes apparent that it is the lad who has developed a direct line to the guy, his strong religious beliefs bring him into sharp conflict with his older and more cynical colleagues.

---

Plot Keywords:

hotel | convention | salesman | hotel room | based on play | 

---

Taglines:

Every sale begins with a smile.

---

Genres:

Drama | Comedy

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The spoken word lyrics to "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) Mix" used at the end of the movie and during the credits, released by Baz Luhrmann in 1999, were from a June 1, 1997 Chicago Tribune column titled "Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young" by Mary Schmich, Chicago Tribune columnist and long-time writer of the Brenda Starr, Reporter comic strip. The essay began with the admonition to wear sunscreen, and continued with discursive advice to the young for living well and without regret. In her introduction to the column, she described it as the commencement address she would give if she were asked to give one. (The column was widely circulated around the Internet, usually erroneously attributed to Kurt Vonnegut Jr..) The song was a number one hit in several countries (there are several versions: four of the song and two of the video).

---

Goofs

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

[first lines]
Phil Cooper: [voice-over] No answer.
Bob Walker: [voice-over] She must be out shopping.
Phil Cooper: [voice-over] God forbid.

---

Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Battlefield Earth/The Big Kahuna/Hamlet/Michael Jordan to the Max/Center Stage (2000)

---

Soundtracks

Charade
Written by Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer
Performed by Si Zentner
Published by The Johnny Mercer Foundation
Administered by WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)/Universal/MCA Music Publishing, a division of Universal Studios, Inc. obo of itself and Northridge Music Co./MCA Northern Music Company
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI-Capitol Special Markets

User Reviews

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.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 May 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hospitality Suite

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$80,957, 30 April 2000

Gross USA:

$3,165,544

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,728,888

Company Credits

Production Co:

Franchise Pictures, Trigger Street Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1