Kingpin

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious movie!
Review: Ok, this movie is hilarious! If you like any other movie by the directors, you'll love this movie. Personally, Bill Murray is the greatest in this movie. In my opinion, right after Woody asks about the sugar, the face that Murray gives is the greatest part of the movie. Anyway, the DVD is great! There are quite a few new scenes, all which add to the great movie. However, pick it up at a best buy or circuit city, its only 10 there.

Rating:
Summary: Oddball Fun
Review: What do you get when you mix a washed up bowler and the Amish? Kinpin, of course. Starring Woody Harrelson as Roy Munson, a once talent, now over the hill want to be bowler. He takes an Amish bowler, Ishmael (Randy Quaid) under his wing, hoping to use him to win the national bowling championship to make up for his lost chance. Craziness takes place and all heck brakes loose (to not give too much away). Great movie for a night when you just want to laugh yourself stupid at, well, stupidity itself. If you liked Something About Mary and Dumb and Dumber, this one is for you.

Rating:
Summary: Big Ern rules ......
Review: Woody Harrelson plays a one-handed former bowling champion trying to con an Amish boy (35+ Randy Quaid) into becoming a pro bowler. Vanessa Angel and Bill Murray's (Big Ern) performance are one of the films best attributes. But Roger Clemens guest cameo as "Skidmark" is one that could (and should) be forgotten, just like his waistline.

Love the land-lady too, she has become quite a memorable character.

Rating:
Summary: HILARIOUS comedy with HEART on an affordable DVD!
Review: (Anyone with a low threshold for gross-out/toilet humor, STAY AWAY!)

"Kingpin" is a highly underrated film that tragically remains unseen by many people. There are two reasons for this:

1) It's a film about bowling.
2) It's a gag-filled comedy starring Woody Harrelson, a good actor in his own right but one who just doesn't have the kind of audience-drawing power of, say, Jim Carrey.

But don't let these factors fool you. Woody and bowling are a odd coupling, but it does wonders up on screen.

The strength of "Kingpin" lies in its characters. All three of the main protagonists undergo individual arcs that are completely believable and relatable to the audience. Vanessa Angel's street-smart but wanton sex cat develops into a charming woman. Randy Quaid's Omish oaf matures into an adult and makes a name for himself. And Woody Harrelson's Roy Munson changes from a one-handed, past-prime, deadbeat, ex-bowling-champion to a decent human being.

Of course, great characters are nothing till great actors bring them to life. And what a cast! Woody Harrelson, a highly underrated actor, gives a stand-out performance. Bill Murray? Forget about it. This guy's the king of witty, understated, visual comedy. And geez, who would have ever thought Randy Quaid could be this funny? Displaying excellent comic timing and delivery, Quaid surprised me as much as Jeff Daniels did in "Dumb and Dumber." Unfortunately, "Kingpin" does have a weak spot: Vanessa Angel and her less-than-stellar acting voice. But this is only a small distraction. She manages well and has great chemistry with the other two leads.

I firmly believe this is the best film the Farrellys' have made so far. Sure, "Dumb and Dumber" is funnier but it's a film that has no impact (which is fine since it's a goofy comedy). Sure "There's Something About Mary" is more romantic (in a twisted sort of way) and made tons of money but it's a film that's too harsh and over-the-top. "Kingpin," on the other hand, makes you laugh and causes you to care about its characters - about the hero of the story, in particular. Roy Munson starts off truly dispicable and pathetic, but ends up charming and appealing. He gains much empathy in his quest to become a "winner." And when he goes up against Murray's Ernie McCracken in a bowling showdown (which, by the way, is as tense as any other showdown in the world of sports), you are there with him, aching and hurting and hoping he'll win. And he does become a winner. Just not in the way you'd expect.

Truly, the ending of "Kingpin" is the Farrellys' finest hour of storytelling: they fall into a screenwriting pit (how will Munson be redeemed?), defy both cliche and expectation, and come out on top with a moving, poignant and highly satisfying ending. You will be hard pressed to find another comedy bearing so much heart while retaining its witty humor.

As for the DVD itself, it features a R-rated cut of the film that includes added scenes, which admittedly, do not really add or take away anything from the overall movie. Just some raunchier material. And there's the commentary from the Farrellys, which is amusing but random, spotty, and not very informative. Obviously, this disc is not brimming with extras but can't complain with the cheap price. You'll also notice the DVD has both widescreen and full-screen versions of the film. Normally, I only watch widescreen because there's no cropping. But take note, this film was shot in super35, which basically means it was shot in full screen and matted to cover the top and bottom (some directors, like Cameron and Verhoven, are known to shoot in this format). Widescreen crops the top and bottom. Full-screen shave a little off the sides. So take your pick.

Rating:
Summary: Bill Murray IS Charles Nelson Reilly
Review: Bill Murray as Ernie McCracken copped his look from Charles Nelson Reilly from 1970s era Match Game shows. Check out Match Game reruns on the Game Show Network and marvel at the pure creepiness of CNR. My only reservation about Kingpin is the whole Amish angle with Randy Quaid - it detracts from the perfectly depicted rivalry of the sad sack versus the slimeball.

Rating:
Summary: funny
Review: this was very funny. im a fan of muray,quaid,and harrellson. did not expect such a good movie though. my favorite joke is the funniest in the movie. the bull joke. i milked the cow we dont have a cow but we have a bull. that was great.vanessa angel di a cool job shes been in one movie though.

Rating:
Summary: Farrelly Bros best work - a gem
Review: great script by Barry Fanaro and Mort Nathan, full of inventive gags and twists and turns, with some of the sleaziest trash characters every put up on the big screen. Strangest thing is that "bowling" film label apparently killed off box office, and many have never even seen the film

DVD color excellent with superb directors narration by Farrelly brothers.

a classic comedy

Rating:
Summary: hello
Review: I thought it was so funny

Rating:
Summary: The audience is Split
Review: A down on his luck ex-bowler tries to precariously attain his former greatness by mentoring an Amish fellah with natural ability for 10-pin. That is the basic story line for KINGPIN. It is a film that came highly recommended to me. But, the movie that arrived only succeeded in under whelming me. Sure, expectations where high

There are a lot of small laughs. A lot. We never see any of the subtler, lasting humor that makes up better film comedies, just sophomoric jokes of the bodily fluid variety.

The slim "storyline" follows a down-on-his-luck former bowling champ and his Amish protégé'. But, that is all irrelevant. No storyline is even needed for this. It's about the extreme jokes.

After all the hype, I found the greatest flaws in the film to be ridiculous performances by Randy Quaid and Woody Harrelson. They at times are miscast... or out of their league. BILL MURRAY is the exception in his role as a sleazy bowling champ and the film brightens when he is on, but he is not on screen often enough.

KINGPIN can do exceptionally well with a very narrow audience base. But, I don't think this flick is going to make the "Bowling Film" a new Hollywood staple. Spare me.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious bowling comedy
Review: Think of "The Color of Money" but with bowling instead of pool and that's Kingpin, oh plus add a (...) load of laughs. Randy Quaid is fantastic as a clueless bowling amish, I mean this guy does number 2 in a urinal for gods sake, lol. Woody Harrelson is great too as a former hot shot bowler that loses it all including his hand but gains something back when he takes Quaid under his wing. Oh plus Vanessa Angel is good too especially the scene where she dances around in small skirts to disract the other bowler. This film has a lot of rauncy laughs and then some yet the funniest thing about it would have to be how serious everyone takes bowling in this movie. Kingpin is the Farrelly's least popular yet it's the funniest in my book.