Review of The Big Kahuna (1999) by Timothy K — 19 Mar 2012

Phil (Danny DeVito), Larry (Kevin Spacey) and Bob (Peter Facinelli) are in the industrial lubricant industry. They are hosting a trade show in which they hope to do business with a very wealthy tycoon whom Larry refers to as 'the grand kahuna.' As the night drags on and a number of curveballs are thrown their way, the three begin to think of what's important in life.

What makes 'The Big Kahuna' more than an average run-of-the-mill film is how quickly it can change its tone and its tempo. For a film that is mostly set in one location, a hotel suite, the pacing is left in the hands of the writing and the acting. The shifts in tone from a fast-cracking workplace comedy to a philosophical, meaning-of-life drama are seamless and render the locale almost meaningless. The change in both material and how that material is presented almost makes the unchanging setting something that goes without notice. Many films that don't 'move around much' are broken by the fact that the characters and their problems aren't interesting. 'The Big Kahuna' avoids that issue without so much as a stumble and presents the matters at hand confidently and without hesitation.

Life is a balancing act, that goes without saying. The proper time and place to mix separate branches of life fits into that balancing act. Intentions, however, are an entirely separate train of thought. Everything seems straight forward until someone knocks routine out of whack. All of a sudden, business, lifestyle, personal belief and well-being can all come crashing into the same picture. As it seems, work may or may not be disconnected from outside life. How you go about managing your affairs and even how you present them is how you define yourself and how others may define you.

A clash of three reasonably different personas and their subsequent portrayal is one of the most critical reasons why 'The Big Kahuna' works. As the fast-talking, cynical all-business Larry, Spacey gives off the feeling of control chaos. Clearly, he has an idea of what he's supposed to do as well as how things are supposed to run, but his constant criticisms cloud that. Danny DeVito's portrayal of Phil is that of a fragmented being. While he isn't on the level of personal craziness that Larry is, he obviously has stuck by Larry and his work for years. Still, behind those observing eyes and 'we'll be alrights' is the longing for something more important in his life - a challenge if you will. Bob, on the other hand, is apparently a master of deception. Although he appears to be nothing more than a well-spoken albeit awkward young businessman, he has a complete gasp on what's important in life. The tie-in in every case is the inability to disconnect from work.

As marketers, they all seem intent on selling their values to one another and anyone with ears to listen. This paves the way for an entertaining and thought-provoking interplay between characters. Phil is experiencing a void. Larry feels work is the best way to fill that void and that the void should be generally felt outside of the workplace. Bob feels it's important to put outside values above all else, including work. The writing is sharp, the performances are spot on and the conversation, though far from the deepest and most intellectual content ever written for the screen, is worthy of mulling over.