Movie "The Big Kahuna" (1999)

    Movie's ratings

    " Every sale begins with a smile."
    Country
    Runtime 1 hr 27 min
    Budget $7 000 000
    Premiere: World $3 728 888 May 19, 2000
    USA $3 165 544
    Other countries $563 344
    Box Office – Budget – $3 271 112
    Premiere: USA $3 165 544 April 28, 2000
    theaters 309
    rollout 248 days
    Digital: World June 1, 2012
    Production Companies
    Also Known As
    Hospitality Suite United States

    Description

    Two veteran salesmen dissect a sales pitch to a particular client, through their young protégé.

    Сast and Crew

    The Book Behind the Film "The Big Kahuna"

    About the Book

    The film "The Big Kahuna" is based on the play Hospitality Suite by Roger Rueff. The play is a thought-provoking exploration of business ethics, personal values, and the nature of human relationships, set in the context of a sales convention.

    About the Author

    Roger Rueff is an accomplished playwright and screenwriter known for his insightful and often philosophical works. His writing often delves into the complexities of human interaction and the moral dilemmas faced by individuals in various professional and personal settings.

    Adaptation and Faithfulness to the Book

    The film adaptation, directed by John Swanbeck, remains largely faithful to the original play. The screenplay, also written by Roger Rueff, retains much of the dialogue and thematic content of the play, focusing on the interactions between the three main characters as they navigate the challenges of their professional and personal lives.

    Key Themes

      • Business Ethics: The story examines the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by salesmen in the pursuit of success.

      • Personal Values: It explores how personal beliefs and values can conflict with professional responsibilities.

      • Human Relationships: The narrative delves into the complexities of human interaction and the impact of personal choices on relationships.

    Reception

    The Big Kahuna garnered a generally positive critical reception while earning modest returns at the box office.

    On Rotten Tomatoes the film has a "Certified Fresh" approval rating of 73% based on reviews from 79 critics. The site's consensus is "Wonderful adaptation of the stage play." On Metacritic the film has a score of 56% based on reviews from 27 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".

    Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times called it "Sharp-edged, perfectly timed, funny and thoughtful."

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    Critique: 4

    75%
    3 1
    London Evening Standard December 26, 2017

    It doesn’t matter how much he pirouettes, paces, prowls and postures, there’s something just a tad too effete about Spacey’s perf...

    calendarlive.com January 1, 2000

    If you’re prepared to accept an inherent staginess that gradually fades as the film progresses, you can become caught up in a drama of e...

    RogerEbert.com January 1, 2000

    Sharp-edged, perfectly timed, funny and thoughtful.

    SFGATE January 1, 2000

    What a charge it is to see the way these three actors get loose and play off each other.

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