If you like bowling, you'll like this.

Rating: 8/10 (14 April 2010)

For all of you who are looking for a good comedy, I recommend "Kingpin." This is a movie that consistently makes me laugh.
The main character is Roy Munson (played by Woody Harrelson), a man whose promising career as a bowler was cut short after a hustle attempt led to the loss of his bowling hand. Nearly twenty years later, he is an alcoholic who sells bowling supplies to local alleys.
One day, he meets an Amish man named Ishmael (Randy Quaid) who impresses Roy with his bowling skills. Later on, Roy reads about an upcoming bowling tournament that is to be held at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada, with the grand prize being one million dollars. Believing Ishmael could have a legitimate chance in the contest, Roy heads to the Amish community where Ishmael resides, finding him and telling him about the opportunity. At first, Ishmael passes on the idea because he does not want his family to find out he bowls. However, once he learns that the community is in financial trouble, he agrees to go to Reno with Roy.
Roy becomes Ishmael's trainer, teaching him what is necessary to claim victory in the tournament. Along the way, they meet up with a woman named Claudia (Vanessa Angel) at the home of her boyfriend Stanley, with whom Ishmael has a bowling match with in an effort to win some money to get to Reno. Things go awry at Stanley's, and Claudia leaves there with the duo and they make their way across the U.S. to Reno, where Roy discovers that Ernie McCracken (Bill Murray), is bowling in the event. McCracken was involved in the situation that ultimately cost Roy his career, and this is the first time they have met face to face since that night.
Ishmael has an accident and breaks his wrist, which of course eliminates any chance of him competing in the contest. This leads Roy back to the lanes, bowling for the first time in years. How will he do?
"Kingpin" makes one laugh in different ways. To start with, there are plenty of laughs generated by Roy's hook and prosthetic hand. The film itself is a spoof of "The Natural" (if you've watched that, you'll see what I mean). Randy Quaid is good as Ishmael, and Ishmael's lack of knowledge about life outside his home leads to some pretty funny moments. Bill Murray is talented at playing obnoxious characters, and he is perfect as Ernie McCracken. Vanessa Angel of "Weird Science" fame is also well cast as Claudia. There are funny lines throughout the movie and there are some gross out moments (you have been warned). Overall, this is just pure comedy that is enjoyable.