Review of The Big Kahuna (1999) by Matthew B — 05 Apr 2005

[indent][i][color=white]It doesn't matter whether you're selling Jesus or Buddha or civil rights or 'How to Make Money in Real Estate With No Money Down.' That doesn't make you a human being; it makes you a marketing rep. If you want to talk to somebody honestly, as a human being, ask him about his kids. Find out what his dreams are - just to find out, for no other reason. Because as soon as you lay your hands on a conversation to steer it, it's not a conversation any more; it's a pitch.[/color][/i].

[/indent][color=#ffffff]From the Big Kahuna, starring Danny DeVito and Kevin Spacey. I think it's my favourite Spacey movie, and that's saying something.[/color].

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[color=#ffffff]If you don't know it, do yourself a favour and find it. Buy it. You'll need to watch it more than once.[/color].

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[color=#ffffff][b]-- Spoilers ahoy --[/b].

The one thing I've never seen discussed is the final line of dialogue in the film. Bob and Larry have left, and Phil is alone in the hospitality suite. The phone rings, and Phil answers. He says:

[indent]Hello? No, you just missed him. Yeah. Yeah. I love you too.

[/indent]The implication could be that Phil -- recently divorced, acting weird around his old friend Larry -- is having an affair with Larry's wife. I'm not certain that that's the only interpretation, but maybe that's because there's so much else to talk about with this movie. And the "I love you too" is half-mumbled. You could easily miss it -- I know I did the first time.

Now I'm thinking about it, and I'm thinking maybe I was wrong. Maybe it was Larry calling down, to apologise to Bob. Earlier, when Larry and Phil were talking, Phil asks Larry if he loves him; Larry has trouble answering. Maybe the call at the end is to close the loop, to ensure that we understand the nature of their friendship and, thereby, the nature of the conversation they've been having throughout the movie. There's also the fact that after this exchange, the next person we see is Larry, smiling.

Interesting. I'll have to watch it again -- but that's just fine with me.

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