The Big Kahuna

Rating:
Summary: nice community theater piece, but not a movie
Review: A small, hemmed in, cramped film in almost all respects 'The Big Kahuna' is based on the play 'Hospitality Suite' and its small town theater feel shows through. Set almost entirely in a hospitality suite at an industrial lubricants convention, 'Kahuna' feels unintentionally claustrophobic and the stilted dialogue that comes out of every character's mouth doesn't help things either. The film wavers between dull and cliche and no amount of overacting from a tedious Spacey is going to save us.

When the examination of the human condition through the lens of "sales" has already been done before (and better) in works like 'Death of a Salesman' and 'Glengarry, Glen Ross', what does 'Kahuna' offer us? Lots of talking and talking. Two or three people in a room, one having a deeply personal crisis, another a deeply religious one and all three of them revealing themselves in a stream-of-consciousness yielding such lines as, "Don't you quote scripture to me, Bob!" and "Larry, do you love me?" Spacey spends the first hour of the film overacting with the same kind of callousness he brings to Larry's character that he brought to 'Swimming with Sharks'. Then, suddenly, as the long night drags on, Larry softens up a bit extending himself emotionally to a recently divorced Phil (DeVito). DeVito spends a lot of time saying, "We'll be all right," and staring pensively off into space or letting his eyes get all dewy with emotion (about what? His divorce? His desire to get out of the sales business? Who cares?)

Then we have Bob, the clean-cut devout Christian who cannot seem to talk to anyone without bringing God into the conversation. All fine and good, but it becomes clear very quickly that Bob has chosen the wrong profession when he speaks to the elusive Kahuna of the title on two separate occaisions and bends the guy's ear about Jesus both times when he's really there to land a lubricant contract. "But I think that's important!" Bob shouts at Larry. I kept thinking, 'Um, yeah sure it is. Follow your heart. Go be an evangelist. Knock yourself out kid. Just get out of this movie because I don't see the point of your being here.' Plus, I know enough devout Christians who are capable of separating their work and their God. Bob, on the other hand, strikes me as a useless simpleton. Maybe the director was trying to say something about religion or morality or purpose in life, but all I got out of it was the equivalent of cienematic tofu.

These guys got stiffed with a lousy script.

Rating:
Summary: Worth a Dekho (Watch)
Review: I have watched this movie on VHS and the dialogues are truly brilliant.
The acting and also the editing (flow) of the movie is excellent.
It is thought provoking and shows that life is not about being judgemental and critical but living and helping others as best as you can - two people can be right in their own ways. We do not perceive things as they are, but as we are.
The moral conclusion of the movie is left to the viewer to decide.
All the three actors come out as very human.
THIS UNCONVENTIONAL MOVIE GOES TO SHOW THAT BRILLIANT FILMS CAN ALSO BE MADE WITH A SMALL BUDGET, HIGHLIGHTING ENDANGERED HUMAN VALUES AND NON-EXISTENCE OF SPECIAL EFFECTS.

Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate in Anti-Corporation Movies
Review: If you have ever stood in a convention booth or attended a hospitality suite and thought that there was something wrong you just couldn't put your finger on, you MUST see this movie. This is one of the best films about disenchantment with the corporate world I have ever seen. The three characters provide all angles - Spacey is the man in the game not questioning it, the kid is bright eyed and naive and DeVitto has, unhappily, got it figured out. DeVitto's dialogue is brilliant and profound when he talks about what character actually is and how we cross the line from human to drone without even realizing it. Watch for the line when DeVitto talks about making a pitch. He is not chastising the kid for witnessing. It is a much more sweeping indictment of the industry itself.

Rating:
Summary: Shocked that Spacey executive produced this dreck
Review: I was seriously shocked by how bad this movie is. I am a big Kevin Spacey fan (everything from Swimming with Sharks, Usual Suspects to American Beauty) but even he cannot save this movie. The entire plot of the movie revolves around the fact that Peter Facinelli's character would rather talk to clients about Jesus than doing his job and selling them things. Spacey and DeVito are mad at first, then grudgingly accept this crazy diamond. Cue the sunscreen song. The end.
Also, I must point out that when the Don't Forget the Sunscreen song plays a central role in your movie, you're in deep, deep trouble. The film basically abdicates any responsibility for coming to a conclusion and plays that song instead.
Mind-blowingly wretched.

Rating:
Summary: Overlooked Gem
Review: The Big Kahuna is one of those films that very few people will ever watch. That is actually a shame, because this film has more to offer than just about every Hollywood blockbuster I have seen in recent years. The script is superb and offers some poignant insights into human life. The three leads give great performances - especially Spacey who should have won the Oscar for this film instead of the overrated American Beauty. The film is not a masterpiece and will probably never come to be considered a classic, but it is still a must see for people who do not find satisfaction in the average Hollywood production.

Rating:
Summary: Clash of Worldviews
Review: Three men away from home on biz --- convention in Wichita. Hospitality Suite to smooz the big kahuna -- Mr. Fuller.

Bob from Research interchanges with Marketing/Sales types Phil and Larry about what counts. Waiting and speculating about big pictures provides dialogue about what makes up these three.

Bob receives golden opportunity to share his faith. Does so in non-aggressive, respectful manner. Ends up smoozing with big K. Impressive in his resolve.

Fine acting by all three. Spacey and DeVito are exceptionally good in portraying some typical executive types.

One to replay and reflect upon truths being laid down in this contemplative flick. Worth the watch.

Rating:
Summary: The Movie is Pointless
Review: The movie is about three salesmen in Kansas on a business trip. They prepare for their big sales party in the hotel they are currently staying in. Danny DeVito is having a mid-life crisis, Spacey's whole life revolves around his job and the sale, and the new young salesman just loves talking about religion. DeVito and Spacey often tell him to stop talking so much about his beliefs but he doesn't listen. The movie consists of talk, talk, and more talk. There is no action, just talk.

Rating:
Summary: God the Big Kahuna
Review: This is a great film starring Danny DeVito and Kevin Spacey. The main themes are sincerity and God but they talk about alot of things, brilliant dialogue. At one point in the movie, Danny DeVito's character says something like, "When I was a kid, I had a dream about God. I dreamed I found Him hiding in a closet in a burned out city. The closet was just standing there by itself in the ruins. I walked to the closet door and inside was God, he had a lions head but I knew it was God. I could tell that he was scared. I reached in and held His hand. I led him out of the closet, still holding His hand. We stood there a while, just the two of us, holding hands, God and I. Then I said: Don't be afraid. Don't you worry God I'm on your side."

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely fantastic Script
Review: With two big names and one slightly less big name, this movie has it's share of stars, but the real star is the dialogue in this movie. "Masterful" is the only word to describe it. I rented this movie on a whim once and now it is one of my all time favorites. It's a thoughtful and self-aware film with lines of dialogue that will get you thinking.

Rating:
Summary: A really fantastic movie.
Review: I was browsing through cable late one night and stumbled across the familiar faces of Kevin Spacey (American Beauty, Se7en) and Danny Devito (Batman Returns, Death To Smoochy), I gave it a watch and was completely taken in by the film. However, I only caught the tail end of it. After that night I never saw the film again. Luckily enough I was browsing through the previously viewed DVD section at my local video store and found a copy of The Big Kahuna. I picked it up for a steal.

The dialogue in this film is some of my favorite, it rivals that of Tarantino's films with the massive conveyence of information but making it all seem rather nonchalant. Kevin Spacey is hilarious in this movie. It's stunning what a serious movie this is but still manages to be so funny at the same time. Danny Devito gives one of the greatest acting performances I have ever seen. I still don't think I have seen better, and I doubt I probably ever will.

This film is a very interesting one, there's basicly only three people in the entire film. And somehow the film keeps you very interested in the happening of all the characters and their problems, things like that, it was gripping some how.

As for the DVD it's self, there's not to much to it. 5.1 audio, 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, not really much else to be said about it. But it's well worth the money. I would highly recommend this film.