Big Laughs from a Terrific Cast

Rating: Null/10 (6 June 2011)

Kingpin (1996)
*** (out of 4)
Bowler Roy Munson (Woody Harrelson) has everything in front of him until another bowler (Bill Murray) sells him out to a group of men they've just hustled and they end up cutting off Munson bowling hand, which puts an end to his career. Seventeen years later Munson is a worthless drunk who sees his chance back in the hopes of a Amish man (Randy Quaid) who he plans on getting to Reno for a big tournament. This was the Farrelly brothers follow-up to DUMB AND DUMBER and unlike that film, this one here wasn't a huge hit out of the gate and instead it took sometime to build up its cult following. I'm really not sure why this movie didn't hit it big when first released but time has been quite friendly to the raunchy comedy as it's certainly one of the better comedies of its period thanks in large part to a terrific cast, a nice story and plenty of big laughs. I think the story itself really isn't anything too special as it's pretty much your typical road movie with the biggest difference being the bowling subplot. I think what really makes this film so special are the three leads who are so perfect in their roles that you really can't imagine anyone else in the world playing them. Harrelson has always been an underrated comic actor and he does a very good job here and manages to get laughs out of the smallest stuff. Just the way he laughs or looks at someone can get a laugh but even better is the way he sells some of the jokes including a hilarious bit on the Amish farm where he pretends to know what he's doing, which leads him to "milking" a bull. Quaid can play an idiot like no other and make it look very easy. The way he brings this Amish guy to life is a lot of fun to watch because you really do feel as if you're watching someone real and someone experiencing the real world for the first time. Murray does what only he can as that type of comedy isn't easy and I can't think of anyone else who can pull it off. Apparently Murray ad-libbed just about every word in the film and the way he pulls this character off really helps bring in the laughs. Vanessa Angel fits in with the boys very well and manages a few nice laughs of her own as does Chris Elliott in his brief scenes. I think the film would have benefited had it lost about ten-minutes worth of footage because at just under two-hours the film is a little too long. The stuff with Angel's boyfriend isn't the funniest bits here and everything that happens with him in the second half should have been left out. The great thing about KINGPIN is that it never really delivers the type of laugh that you might expect and that's why the film works so well. The movie will have a scene set up and you might think you know where it's going but the funny part is seeing how different it plays out. The movie has some fairly low-taste laughs but the brothers were clearly just warming up as THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY was just two years away.