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Movies / On DVD / The Big Kahuna
The Big Kahuna

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The Big Kahuna (1999)

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Reviews Counted:76

Fresh:56

Rotten:20

Average Rating:6.4/10

Consensus: Wonderful adaptation of the stage play.

Runtime: 1 hr 31 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: First-time feature director John Swanbeck teams up with producer-actor Kevin Spacey for this big screen adaptation of Roger Rueff's play HOSPITALITY SUITE. The story concerns three lubricant... First-time feature director John Swanbeck teams up with producer-actor Kevin Spacey for this big screen adaptation of Roger Rueff's play HOSPITALITY SUITE. The story concerns three lubricant salesmen who have gathered in a Witchita, Kansas hotel room in order to throw a cocktail party for prospective buyers. They are Larry (Spacey), a harsh, cocky veteran; his partner Phil (Danny DeVito), a passive recovering alcoholic; and Bob (Peter Facinelli), a naïve new colleague whose ethics drive Larry into fits of disbelief. The trio waits for the night's arrivals--most specifically, "The Big Kahuna," a man so wealthy that he has the ability to single-handedly revive Larry and Phil's struggling careers. After the party, Larry and Phil are dumbfounded when they discover that Bob actually spoke to him, only their conversation consisted solely of religious dialogue. Larry sends Bob in search of "The Big Kahuna" with the order that he discuss business if he wants to remain employed. The subsequent hours provide each individual with the chance to exorcise his inner demons once and for all. Limited in its usage of locations, Rueff's big-screen adaptation of his play contains inspired performances from Spacey, DeVito, and Facinelli. [More]

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Danny De Vito, Peter Facinelli

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Danny De Vito, Peter Facinelli

Director: John Swanbeck

Director: John Swanbeck
Screenwriter: Roger Rueff
Producer: Elie Samaha, Kevin Spacey, Andrew Stevens
Composer: Christopher Young

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Aug 29, 2000

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for The Big Kahuna

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1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

This stripped-down, no-frills flick was shot in 16 days and seethes with the frantic energy that must have gone into making it.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
01/01/00
E! Online

What a charge it is to see the way these three actors get loose and play off each other.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Bob Graham
Bob Graham
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It is off-handed and a fitting reflection of our whatever-with-two-shrugs kind of age.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
01/01/00
Bob Thompson
Bob Thompson
Jam! Movies

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
01/01/00
Brian Webster
Brian Webster
Apollo Guide

The Big Kahuna sells itself beautifully.

comment Comment
01/01/00
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

A well-acted if very stagy adaptation of Roger Rueff's play Hospitality Suite, The Big Kahuna offers lessons that might apply quite nicely to Arthur Miller's pathetic pavement pounder.

Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
01/01/00
Chris Vognar
Chris Vognar
Dallas Morning News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Facinelli is excellent.

Full Review Source: San Diego Union-Tribune | comment Comment
01/01/00
David Elliott
David Elliott
San Diego Union-Tribune

...worth watching just for the performances...

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
08/01/03
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

The only problem with the film, is that it's more of a play than a cinematic experience.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Spacey and DeVito are at the top of their game.

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
01/01/00
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
Eric D. Snider
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com

It's smart, funny and insightful and it's quite easy to see what attracted the stars to it.

comment Comment
01/01/00
Ernest Hardy
Ernest Hardy
Film.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

John Swanbeck has made a notable debut with The Big Kahuna.

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
Fiona Ng
Fiona Ng
Hollywood.com

Depicts how the ardent Christian faith of a true believer compels his two associates to probe their own ideas and ideals.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
08/21/02
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

What you will find are standout performances from each actor and subject matter that will evoke debate long after the movie has ended.

comment Comment
01/01/00
George Thomas
George Thomas
Beacon Journal

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Compuserve | comment Comment
01/01/00
Harvey S. Karten
Harvey S. Karten
Compuserve

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jack Garner
Jack Garner
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

The performances are first-rate, particularly that of DeVito as The Big Kahuna's version of Willy Loman.

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jack Mathews
Jack Mathews
New York Daily News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
01/01/00
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Despite my reservations about Spacey's performance, the film is generally very well acted.

Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jay Boyar
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
 
 
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