The Big Kahuna DVD Review:

A film based on the experiences of three industrial lubricants salesmen would have most clambering for the remote, but thanks to some snappy dialogue The Big Kahuna is far from dull.

Holed up in a hotel in Wichita, the salesmen are hoping to snare a potentially career-changing client, the kahuna of the title. As you might expect, things don’t exactly run smoothly. Newbie Bob (Peter Facinelli) is the only one who manages to find their man at the conference. Unfortunately, Bob prefers to talk about Jesus rather than business.

There are some fine performances here. Kevin Spacey’s turn as the cynical and outspoken Larry is highly entertaining. He’s given some of the best lines in the film and his deadpan demeanour and sarcastic drawl certainly do them justice. Facinelli manages to hold his own against Spacey as the innocent and idealistic Baptist Bob, who is perpetually shocked by Larry. His high principles could have distanced him from the audience, but Facinelli always manages to keep Bob sympathetic and vulnerable, even when his rigid beliefs cause an ugly scene.

Yet although Spacey’s performance grabs your attention by the lapels, Danny DeVito’s understated acting is equally impressive. His portrayal of the quietly despairing Phil draws the viewer in without any whistles and bells. While Spacey enjoys spitting out various insults and provocative arguments, DeVito manages to communicate just as much with a few weary glances.

As the film develops, the trio are forced to re-evaluate their lives and consider what is truly the big kahuna in life. What started out as a comic film slowly morphs into something more serious, with weighty issues like love, life and death being offered up for debate. For some this might be a disappointment, but there’s always an element of sarcasm lurking. It is lucky that DeVito’s performance is convincing, as it is mostly his character’s musings that instigates this shift in tone. You’ll have to see it to believe it, but he even manages to ask Spacey if he loves him without being nauseating. Just about.

Others might be put off by the fact that this is quite obviously more a play than a film. Roger Rueff wrote the script based on his play ‘Hospitality Suite’ and director John Swanbeck appears to make no attempt to disguise the film’s theatrical roots. It is very static, only briefly cutting away from the hotel room. The standard of acting should cancel this out, but if you really can’t stand theatre you probably won’t stomach this.

While it lacks the punch of similar features like Glengarry Glen Ross, overall The Big Kahuna can still boast great acting and a smart script that manages to be both bitingly funny and thought provoking.

Extras

Just subtitles.



Natalie Hunt