The Big Kahuna (film)
| The Big Kahuna | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | John Swanbeck |
| Screenplay by | Roger Rueff |
| Produced by | Elie Samaha Kevin Spacey Andrew Stevens |
| Starring | Kevin Spacey Danny Devito Peter Facinelli |
| Cinematography | Anastas N. Michos |
| Edited by | Peggy Davis |
| Music by | Christopher Young |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Lions Gate Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $7 million[1] |
| Box office | $3,728,888[1] |
The Big Kahuna is a 1999 American comedy-drama film adapted from the play Hospitality Suite, written by Roger Rueff, who also wrote the screenplay. John Swanbeck, the director, makes few attempts to lessen this film's resemblance to a stage performance: the majority of the film takes place in a single hotel room, and nearly every single line of dialogue is spoken by one of the three actors.
The famous 1997 essay Wear Sunscreen is featured at the end of the film.
Plot
Kevin Spacey plays Larry Mann, a relentlessly foul-mouthed cynic; Danny DeVito plays Phil Cooper, a world-weary average Joe; and Peter Facinelli is Bob Walker, a devout and earnest young Baptist. The three are in the industrial lubricant industry : Larry and Phil are marketing representatives and Bob is part of research and development. The three are attending a trade show where they expect to land a very important account in the form of a rich businessman whom Larry refers to as The Big Kahuna. As the night progresses, Larry unleashes a torrent of scathingly funny witticisms, mostly directed at Bob, but finds himself relying on the newest member of the trio when their quarry invites Bob (and only Bob) to an exclusive party.
While Phil and Larry wait for Bob to bring them the news that could end their careers, they muse over the meaning of life. Bob finally returns and offers a bombshell: rather than try to sell their product, he has instead chosen to talk to the man with deep pockets about religion. Bob is unable to muster any reply at all when Phil quietly explains how he sees no difference at all between Bob's preaching and Larry's fast-talking.
Cast
- Kevin Spacey as Larry Mann
- Danny DeVito as Phil Cooper
- Peter Facinelli as Bob Walker
- Paul Dawson as Bellboy
- George F. Miller (uncredited) as Hotel patron leaving lobby. [Is this some kind of joke?]
Reception
The Big Kahuna received mixed to positive reviews; it currently holds a 74% 'fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus "Wonderful adaptation of the stage play."[2] The film received a 56/100 "mixed or average reviews" on Metacritic.[3]