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I thought it was so funny

tries very hard to be funny.

I'm sorry. I love love LOVE Woody Harrelson and I love comedies and I really like Bowling! So I wanted to really really like this movie. But I didn't.It's tough to say why but just a few thoughts are....this movie tries REALLY hard to be funny. I felt that immediately. I didn't think it was though nor did I think the story was that strongly interesting. I found certain things funny but never hilarious and the movie sometimes seemed to be just creeping along. Although Harrelson is great, I prefer him in Dramas.I did enjoy the scenery and the bowling theme. I just didn't get into the movie itself, many clichés and the humor was very forced. I wouldn't call Kingpin dreadful(it's gotton some pretty bad reviews.) But it'll never go down as my favorite either.

Why filmmakers decide to mix sport with COMEDY is beyond me and Kingpin is a good example of why not to.

Something I've found with sports films is that the less funny they are, the better. When I say 'less funny', I mean when they're not attempting to be comedies. Some of the best sports films from down the years have been the ones that don't show sports as a joke; films that don't send up the sports and films that don't try to be funny. Raging Bull, The Hustler and The Colour of Money are amongst these examples with The Hustler and The Colour of Money particularly relevant examples. When it comes to humour in sports films, Happy Gilmore is probably the only one that I actually liked and which was supposed to be a comedy; odd how it too features a mentor with a false hand. Because of this, that means Kingpin is, in my opinion, a failure.This is quite a bump landing for Woody Harrelson who went from Natural Born Killers in 1994 to this junk with the mediocre but fun Money Train in between. Here, he doesn't play a cross country killer but a cross country bowling coach called Roy Munson as he coaches a protégé called Ishmael Boorg (Quaid). This is where the references to The Hustler and The Colour of Money come in – Kingpin is a failed and flawed version of these two films but with bowling replacing pool right down to the way the final tournament (in The Colour of Money) is started as each competitor simultaneously takes the first shot in their respective match.Kingpin has several basic things wrong with it that makes it disgusting, unfunny, badly paced and frustrating. I feel the biggest problem is the casting of Randy Quaid as the shy, innocent and all round good guy Ishmael. There's something I can't quite put my finger on that's wrong with it because the guy's delivery is flat and unfunny and the character in general is just too inconsistent. He's oblivious to the world despite his age yet can give monologues about life and how bad smoking is to people and inspire them to think differently. The fact he's also a complete idiot doesn't help the consistency of the character either. Also, the humour in Kingpin is rather pathetic yet at the same time, grotesque: the 'milking' of a bull scene was disgusting, the sex with the old landlady and the subsequent shots of Roy vomiting was uncalled for, the kissing of the elderly relative with the huge beard was nasty and topping it all of was Ishmael/Quaid himself dressed as some sort of drag queen stripper. None of this was funny or even pleasant to look at so you can imagine how very surprised I was when I realised that the script was actually written by someone over the age of ten.Kingpin tries to have a heart as it forces its protagonist to face former demons back at his home town about half way through. The reason these scenes are good is because the film isn't relying on dumb humour but also because the last time we were at these locations was in the opening which was very well done. The scenes of Roy as a boy bowling in is yard, the 1979 tournament and the way the camera and the disco music combines as he enters the alley is fun and very effective so how ironic that when Roy suffers his past tragedy, the film turns into a different type of beast. How very quaint that Roy also manages to give the definition of a mentor when he's trying to convince Ishmael to become his protégé without actually saying: 'I'll be your mentor'. Also, how very quaint that thanks to weak cause and effect a love interest manages to worm its way into the plot. Kingpin is perhaps fun for the first fifteen minutes but then misses the mark more times than it should with gross, unfunny humour; bad characterisation of the protégé and just a really bland feeling that it's trying too hard to be funny as well as tragic.

Eddie McCraken rules OK!

What a totally mad fim! Woody Harrelson is just brilliant as the one handed Munson, Randy Quaid is excellent as the naive Ishmael, even if he does seem a little old for the role, and Vanessa Angel........enough said! But it's Bill Murray who steals the film as the lascivious, crooked and thoroughly revolting Eddie McCracken. What a tour de force.If you're looking for a sophisticated, light hearted comedy, then this isn't it. To say the comedy is crude, is an understatement but it is typical Farrelly brothers and hilariously funny, non PC and very crude. It's one of those films which, when you explain the storyline to someone who hasn't seen it, sounds totally ridiculous, confusing and pointless and leaves them with a bemused look on their face - a sure sign of greatness!

Quite Possibly the Worst Movie Ever Made

Seriously, I skimmed the comments for this movie, and I only found one guy who said that this was the stupidest movie ever. What's with that? You people are messed up.This is extremely absurd, considering, including me, I know at least five people who are of that opinion, and dozens more who just hate this movie. I - and I'm not kidding you here - almost got laughed out of a conversation for admitting to having paid to see it in a theatre. And no, I don't live in Snobland, but thanks for asking.Why is this movie so bad? It's not funny. Simple as that. Is a guy getting his arm torn off in a bowling-ball-shiner machine funny? No. Mind you, getting an ear bitten off isn't particularly funny either but both Mike Tyson and the Big Lebowski made it work. This movie doesn't make anything work at all, I've rarely seen so many minutes without a laugh - hell, even dramas usually have more funny scenes. Now that I've mentioned Big Lebowski - there's an excellent, excellent, hilarious... err... excellent movie - and it involves bowling too. But this? This aggression on movie-making will not stand. Sincerely takin' er easy for all us sinners,Marmaduke Grove

Probably the best Farrelly's Brothers film ever made.

Roy Munson (Woody Harrelson) is a has been pro bowler, who have been given a second chance to teach an Amish Bowling Whiz by the name of Ishmael (Randy Quiad). Together, they have a chance to win the Million Dollar at the Reno Bowling Tournament. Along the way, they meet Claudia (Vanessa Angel). She's a beautiful woman with brains and attitude. In their road trip, they become the best of friends and they would do anything to keep each other happy until an old nemesis of Munson by the name of Ernie McCrackin (Bill Murray), who is responsible for losing the left bowling hand of Munson's. Who is also playing at the Reno Bowling Tournament.Directed by Peter & Bobby Farrelly (Dumb & Dumber, Stuck on You, There's Something about Mary) made their best comedy yet. DVD has an fine anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and an Pan & Scan is also included. DVD also has an good Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. This DVD is the R-Rated Director's Cut with four minutes of additional footage. DVD also has an amusing commentary track by the directors, original theatrical trailer and an collector's booklet. Do not miss this outrageous comedy from The Farrelly Brothers. Written by Barry Fanaro (Men in Black 2, The Crew) and Mort Nathan (Boat Trip). Super 35. (****/*****).

10

Why would a sane person give a 10 to a movie which the plot is about a handless man and an Amish guy that want to win a bowling competition? The answer is simple. It is a hilarious movie and one of the best comedies I ever seen. It has the same sense of humor of films like the Naked Gun, and the cast is great.Kingpin is a cleaver movie with a different plot(where did they came up with the idea of making a movie about a former bowling player that nowadays has a rubber hand, teaching an Amish guy to play bowling so they can win a competition that pays 1 million).Definitively one of the greatest comedies I've ever seen. It's too bad that it is not a very known movie here in Brazil, but be sure that the people that have seen it thought it was great.

Disappointing

A very disappointing film from the Farrelly Brothers, who have produced some excellent comedies in more recent years. Here, however, their crude jokes and stereotyping seems to fall flat and the film remains not only humourless but somewhat devoid of an interesting plot.

Dumb and Dumber was awful, this is a classic

Could Dumb and Dumber be made by the same people who made this and Something about Mary? Unlike the sopomore slump the Farrelly's first movie was a freshman slump, unfunny and mean, while their second film has heart and big laughs. Where in D&D everyone seemed TRYING too hard to show how funny everything was supposed to be, Kingpin underplays and plays it straight (mostly) to great effect. Kingpin is underated and plays nicely with Mary. I salute the Farrelly's, it was a jump as if the makers of Bio-Dome then went on to do Raging Bull.

ONE OF THE BEST COMEDIES EVER MADE IN HISTORY !!!!!!!!!

I sae this one when I was six years old. Of cours I didn't understand then, but I laughed my ass off. Now I rented it two days before Christmas last year and I understood more and laughed even harder than the last time I've seen wich was seven years ago. I love this one. I'm not gonna tell you the plot about this one either, but I strongly suggest you watch this one right now. This is the best FARRELY'S BROTHER movie along with "There's Something About Mary". I love this two. I'm not that much of a "Dumb And Dumber" fan.


I think you should purchase or rent this one. It is simply one of the best comedies of the century and the best perfomance by Woody Harelson. I think I am gonna watch it again right now. If you want to do the same, then I'm with you.

If you don't think this is funny, you just don't get it

C'mon...this is MUCH FUNNIER than "Mary." Just seeing Bill Murray's "United Way" type ad is worth the price of admission. If anything, the boys from Cumberland, RI were trying too hard with "Mary." Kingpin does drag in a few spots (when Roy revisits Ocelot), but it is packed with hilarious bits. The spoof on "Indecent Proposal" is classic, with Chris Eliot playing his usual cameo bit. My next drink in a casino will be a sake & seltzer!

A Classic !!!

If you want to see Bill Murray at his comedic best this is the movie. Big Ern McCracken is so hilarious. I love the commercial he does about Kids Without Fathers where the little kid with the fox momma says "Sometimes when i wake up Mr. McCracken is already here" and then Ern says at the end that by helping these kids "you give a little but you get a whole lot back". Another is when a lady reporter is interviewing him on camera and she asks if he wants to respond to a paternity suit a woman filed on him. He says," yes i want to make it very clear. I pulled out of her really early". LOLOLOLOL.And after he wins the championship match and tells the reporter he was worried because he didn't want to get beat by a guy with a hook. The reporter says "was that a slam at the handicapped?" and Murray says "I don't know, what do i care, I'm rich" LOLOLOL.Gotta watch this one. I have seen it 15 times at least and i laugh out loud every time.

I Haven't laughed THIS hard at the movies too often

Young Roy Munson has been raised to be a bowler.It's what he does best. In 1979,at the age of eighteen,Roy(Woody Harrelson from here on out)is at the top of his game and a bona-fide star in his Ohio hometown. After he beats Ace pro Ernie"The Big Ern"McCracken(Bill Murray,smarmy and snarkly as ever)in a match,he is raked into Ernie's con game and pays a dear price for it.Seventen years later,Roy is anything but the local hero he once was. He lives in a seedy apartment in small town Pennsylvania,does odd sales jobs and has to "satisfy" his decrepit landlady to avoid the rent. It's at one of the bowling alleys that Roy does routes to that he witnesses one Ishmael Boorg(Randy Quaid,backing his scene stealing performance in ID4 with this bravura turn),a sweet,gentle Amish man-child who has a natural knack for bowling. Needing money and smelling a chance at scoring big time,Roy decides to take Ishmael under his wing.On the way to a Million dollar tournament in Las Vegas,Roy and Ishmael pick up a comely stowaway and ally in a gangster's moll(VAnessa Angel) and bond from mishap to mishap.There's nothing particularly brilliant or especially sharp about this offering,the second from the brothers Farrelly,but its uniqueness and lack of restraint on the gross-out humor make this movie a very easy watch(for those who love that kind of stuff,of course). Harrelson,Quaid,Murray and Angel move effortlessly through this flick,which may explain why it's so good. Since this film,the Farrellys have steadily moved away from the almost merciless gross-out gags of their films and has made seeing their films a little less riotous and fun,so this movie is a healthy reminder of what a little imagination(I mean,honestly...a movie about Bowling AND the Amish?)and mischief can make. A great cheap rent or cable TV movie.

Another fantastic Farrelly brothers film..............

This is a comedy classic starring Woody Harrelson as Roy Munson a former bowling champion who incidentely lost his hand when he tried to cheat the wrong guys, actualy it was his sleazy rival Earnie Mckracken (briliantly played by Bill Murray) who tricked him into it. 17 years later and Roy has not been able to follow his dreams as a proffesional Bowler, he lives in a garbage heap of an appartment and has a rubber hand and a realy bad comb-over lol but just as his luck couldn't get any worse he soon finds Ishmael who is an amish farmer played by Randy Quaid in a bowling ally who has a perfect score and soon Roy tries to manage him so he could win in the tournament in Nevada Randy Quaid is perfect for this role a naive simple person who gets into alot of trouble despite his religion. Watch out for the scene when Roy lives the Amish lifestyle trying to convince Ish to go with him totaly hilarious (We have a bull, I'm gonna go brush my teeth) there are so many other scenes mostly cheap gags involving Roy's rubber hand that are absolutly hilarious and the girl forgot her name has a very unusual fight scene with Roy I never laughed so hard. There are also some gross humor involving the land lady but nothing to offensive. Some how this film was a failure when it was released at the box office but I don't think that audiences where into the dumb grossout humor at the time it wasn't until Theres something about Mary was released. Fantastic I highly recomend this film especialy if your looking for a great laugh this film cannot be missed.

I Almost Died Of Laughter

This of course is not a great movie but I just have to give it a 10/10. I have never laughed more in my life. Even the jokes that aren't funny are funny. This film's comedic build up is about the best you will ever see. It doesn't even matter what the punch line is, its how they get to it thats hilarious.Now this cast was perfect. Anytime you have Randy Quaid in a film you just know the film is going to make you life just by looking at him. Kingpin couldn't have shown this any better as he plays an Amish man who just happens to be amazingly talented at bowling. Woody Harrelson plays a has-been ex-professional bowler who makes a comeback with managing through Randy Quaid. Together they go on a ride across the country making money left and right. Along the journey they are great supporting comedic performances given by Bill Murray and Vanessa Angel who certainly makes the look of the film more appealing.The Farrelly brothers in my opinion give their best direction they've yet to have. Yet it is the writers who so perfectly set up one joke after another. It seems as if the script is so sharp that their are jokes within jokes. The Farrelly brother handle this material so well by virtual unknowns.As I have said before this is not a great film but I would highly recommend this if your in the mood of watching something spontaneous. It may not be the most technically sound movie ever made or the deepest but I have never laughed so much in life and that in it self is what comedies are about.

And You Call Yourselves A Bowling Alley?

Just on principle, any movie about Amish bowlers should be funny.
"Kingpin", which is a Farrelly Brothers film about an Amish bowler, is not only howlingly funny, it's also sick, twisted, and one of the most underrated comedies of recent years. While not quite up to the lowbrow genius of the Farrelly Brothers' other films ("Dumb and Dumber", "There's Something About Mary"), there's enough crude humor blended with a genuinely engaging story to create a film that's remarkably good.Roy Munson (Woody Harrelson) is a promising young bowling champion who has the audacity to defeat the king of the local lanes, Ernie McCracken (Bill Murray, in a delightfully sleazy, love-to-hate role). Ernie decides that Roy needs to learn a lesson in manners, one thing leads to another Three Stooges style, and Roy's bowling career is suddenly ended by a freakish injury, one which costs him his bowling hand. (The sheer fact that the manner in which this is done is hysterically funny is a tribute to the Farrelly Brothers' gift for comedy.) Fast forward ten years to a fat, bitter, and balding Roy, who suddenly spots Ishmael Boorg , a kid with a real gift for bowling . . . a sweet, innocent, Amish kid. Roy takes the kid under his wing, and in a crude, darkly funny series of events that oddly seems to parody "The Color of Money", Roy begins to teach the kid about bowling . . . and about life."Kingpin" isn't exactly the most intelligent comedy ever made -- one of the best jokes in the film involves X's efforts to milk a bull -- but it is darn funny. Like other Farrelly Brothers films. there's also a certain level of sweetness mixed in with all the bawdy humor, which gives the film some depth and makes it more than just a 90 minute R-rated Three Stooges routine. As stupid as some of these characters are -- and there's plenty of stupid to pass around in "Kingpin" -- you actually care about what happens to them.
They aren't just walking punchlines.Of special mention is Bill Murray, who brings new dimensions to the word slime. With his sequined shirts, plastered comb-over, and condescending sneer, Murray looks and acts like a cross between a used car salesman and Hitler. As Ernie McCracken , Murray relishes being loathed and hated, and man, he gives you plenty of hilarious reasons to hate him.Highly recommended, if you appreciate fun, dumb, politically incorrect jokes. B+

Kingpin bowls 300 game

What can you say about a film that features such lines as "I think I tore my sac" ? Only that it's my favorite movie, and a modern comic masterpiece. Kingpin is not the Farrelly brothers' most family friendly feature. However, I believe, Kingpin is their greatest achievement in comedy, content, and cinematography. Despite the ridiculous concepts and events in the film, Kingpin manages to create strong emotional connections between characters and audience. The triple ball-hit towards the end of the film may be the greatest moment in modern slapstick humor. See this film if you love to laugh - let this film pass by if you are offended by anything.

Hilarious bowling comedy

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.

So stupid, it's almost fatal

For some reason, a good friend of mine recommended this film to me... probably because he knows I like to go bowling. The little bit of bowling that takes place in this movie is about the only thing worth while... and when it comes down to it, nothing is really worth while in this mind-numbing flick.

Roy Munson (Woody Harrelson) was groomed by his father from the time he was a young child to be a professional bowler. As he reaches adulthood in the late 70s, he quickly becomes well known as the best bowler in the state, and the hero of his home town of Ocelot.

He soon teams up with Ernie McCracken (Bill Murray), a bitter, manipulative con man who would be the top bowler if it were not for Munson.

The short-lived partnership turns to tragedy when, thanks to McCracken, Munson is attacked and loses his right hand. This is supposed to be a comedy - even the scene in which he loses his hand is intended to be funny. Don't get me wrong - I understood the humor, and maybe if I was incredibly drunk, I would laugh - but nothing about someone being permanently disfigured is funny.

Non-stop slapstick jokes are used throughout the film, using Munson's prosthetic hook. This worked in the Peter Pan re-make, "Hook," but does not work here.

The film fast forwards to 17 years after his disfigurement an not much has changed - he has been drinking himself into sorrow the entire time. This is also made out to be a comedic element - a man so devastated, that he drinks his life away in utter despair and loneliness. Funny, huh?

Even though he can't bowl, he loves the bowling experience and is a struggling salesman to bowling alleys. During a sales call, he encounters Ishmael Boorg (Dennis Quaid), an Amish farmer who has snuck to the bowling alley to re-live an experience he had with his grandfather years before.

Munson convinces Boorg that he is a bowling genius and that they should go to Reno, Nevada to a million-dollar bowling tournament.

A worldly, drunk, selfish man takes a selfless, naive Amish farmer across the country in a beat-up wreck... a recipe for humor, right?

About every cliche you can think of happens - before the film is over, Ishmael has been dressed in drag, gotten drunk, gotten grotesque tattoos and been in fist fights. As though it were by osmosis, Munson suddenly becomes less selfish and suddenly sober.

The viewer is bombarded with tasteless gags, disgusting bedroom humor, implied animal abuse, and foul bathroom humor.

I have a great sense of humor, which is why this film did nothing to provoke me to laughter.

The acting was as good as it could have been in such a story. Like another slapstick, bathroom-humor film, "There's Something About Mary," the Farrelly brothers try to have a tongue-in-cheek approach to this movie. The characters are almost winking at the audience. The difference is that in "There's Something About Mary," the comedic timing worked and the gags were not predictable.

In order to rally bowling fans to see the film, many pro bowlers, including the legendary Mark Roth, are given cameo appearances - but none of them have more than 1 or 2 seconds of screen time and none of them have any dialogue.

This film is a true waste of celluloid and talent... and worse, a waste of time to watch.

This film "bowled" me over... (sorry) You'll love it or hate it..

I found this to be one of the funniest films to come out of Hollywood. To others this will one of the most crass. Kingpin is a film you'll either love or hate. It's more subtle than "Dumb and Dumber" and less commercial than "There's Something About Mary". This is the Farrelly Brothers best film. The film pulls no punches and paints some pretty real characters. Our heroes are total losers. Woody Harrelson plays the bitter, balding bowler Roy Munsen and Bill Murray has a riot as the smarmy and salacious conman Ernie McCracken. The script goes from one nasty joke to the next, breaking as many taboos as it can. Kingpin is a combination of all our nasty character traits rolled into one film and that's what I love about it. It's honest and blunt. It deals with bitterness, paranoia and betrayal. Kingpin shows you what happens when people live truly for themselves. Be warned, Kingpin's answer might not be the one you wanted to hear...