Kingpin

Rating: 4/10 (13 October 2008)

I knew about the leading actor, I knew the premise of the film (about bowling, although it sounds like a gangster film), but I didn't it was directed by Bobby and Peter Farrelly (Dumb and Dumber, There's Something About Mary). Basically Roy Munson (Woody Harrelson) was raised by his father at a young age to be the best bowler in the world, and in 1979, all grown up, he was growing as a champion. Unfortunately his talent was cut off (literally) when fellow bowler Ernie McCracken (Bill Murray) and him got into a misunderstanding, and Roy lost his bowling hand. Years later, Roy is now living with a metal hook, and a connectible rubber hand, and works as a travelling salesman, but he is going downhill, until he sees the opportunity to get back into the bowling world. One night he sees a skilled bowler, Ishmael Boorg (Randy Quaid), an Amish who secretly went away from his farm to bowl (and he would get disowned if the other Quakers knew). Roy convinces Ishmael to let him be his trainer to make the world's best bowler, and Ishmael is actually finding life outside the farm quite fun. Roy does soon encounter now top ranking bowling champion Ernie, now obviously his nemesis, and Roy gets his chance to prove he still has his skill (even with the rubber hand) when Ishmael breaks his hand, and he takes over at the ultimate bowling championship. In the end, you don't expect Roy to lose (by one point), but at least he gets the girl, Claudia (Vanessa Angel). Also starring Chris Elliott as The Gambler, William Jordan as Mr. Boorg, Richard Tyson as Owner of Stiffy's, Lin Shaye as Roy's Landlady, Zen Gesner as Thomas Boorg and Prudence Wright Holmes as Mrs. Boorg. Thsi wasn't as funny as I hoped it would be, I could recognise the spoofs of Witness and The Color of Money (with the hustling), but the jokes are a little repetitive, such as the rubber hand and gross landlady in mirror, but not an awful film. It was number 45 on The 50 Greatest Comedy Films (it beat Bridget Jones's Diary, Carry On Cleo and The Producers!). Okay!