The Big Kahuna

R

Released Apr 28, 2000

1h 30m

Comedy

Drama

List

73%

Tomatometer

79 Reviews

72%

Audience Score

5,000+ Ratings

Three salesmen for a foundering industrial lubricant manufacturer hang out in their company's hospitality suite at a major convention, waiting for the arrival of a prospective customer they've privately dubbed "The Big Kahuna," whose potential sales would turn the struggling company around. Phil (Danny DeVito) plays peacemaker between the cynical, argumentative huckster, Larry (Kevin Spacey), and Bob (Peter Facinelli), the company's newest hire, whose religious sanctimony irritates Larry.

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Critics Consensus

Wonderful adaptation of the stage play.

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Will Self

London Evening Standard

It doesn't matter how much he pirouettes, paces, prowls and postures, there's something just a tad too effete about Spacey's performance to make Larry as dangerous a presence as he needs to be.

Dec 26, 2017

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 2/5

Apr 1, 2006

Full Review

Neil Smith

BBC.com

Rated: 3/5

Aug 17, 2004

Full Review

David Thorpe

Out Magazine

[Facinelli's] perfect performance boldly proves that a handsome young man is a symbol of real hope, even to straight guys.

May 27, 2022

Full Review

Joe Leydon

The Moving Picture Show

Sometimes profanely funny, sometimes intensely dramatic, The Big Kahuna is a richly amusing and provocatively insightful film that builds to a profoundly powerful cumulative impact.

Aug 6, 2014

Full Review

Jim Lane

Sacramento News & Review

Rated: 3/5

Aug 7, 2008

Full Review

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Audience Member

Great movie with an amazing performance from Kevin spacey - I miss him . Movie had strong glengary glenross vibes 4.5/5

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/14/21

Full Review

Audience Member

A great film with a noticeably above average performance from Kevin Spacey. Hopefully he’ll get back to his acting days soon because no matter what you think of him personally, he will always be one of the best actors of this century

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/05/20

Full Review

Audience Member

Slow paced and thoughtful, it has the marks of a stage play turned into a movie, which it is. The three main characters are drawn well and everyone else is landscape. A decent movie.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Reminded me a ton of Glengarry Glen Ross. I lost power before I could finish this (so this review isn't totally fair), but the premise was too full of holes, the story was too slow, the dialogue too irritating. When I do finish it I hope the ending proves me wrong.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Un film che avevo sentito nominare molto spesso ma che non è nulla di eccezionale. La trama parte grigia, come la convention che i protagonisti stanno per realizzare. Dietro ad una vendita di lubrificanti industriali in realtà si celano tre persone molto diverse per attitudine, visione della vita e moralità che si andranno ad intrecciare e a scontrare.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/29/23

Full Review

rory s

Well acted. Great script. Spacey is superb.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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John Swanbeck

Director

Kevin Spacey

Larry Mann

Danny DeVito

Phil Cooper

Peter Facinelli

Bob Walker

Paul Dawson

Bellboy

George F. Miller

Hotel patron

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Synopsis

Three salesmen for a foundering industrial lubricant manufacturer hang out in their company's hospitality suite at a major convention, waiting for the arrival of a prospective customer they've privately dubbed "The Big Kahuna," whose potential sales would turn the struggling company around. Phil (Danny DeVito) plays peacemaker between the cynical, argumentative huckster, Larry (Kevin Spacey), and Bob (Peter Facinelli), the company's newest hire, whose religious sanctimony irritates Larry.

Director: John Swanbeck
Producer: Elie Samaha, Kevin Spacey, Andrew Stevens
Screenwriter: Roger Rueff, Roger Rueff
Distributor: Lionsgate Films
Production Co: Franchise Pictures, Trigger Street Productions
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 28, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 1, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.2M
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, DTS, SDDS, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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