Kingpin (1996)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Directors:

Bobby Farrelly
Peter Farrelly

Writers (WGA):

Barry Fanaro (written by) &
Mort Nathan (written by)

Release Date:

26 July 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sport

Tagline:

A comedy right up your alley.

Plot:

A star bowler whose career was prematurely "cut off" hopes to ride a new prodigy to success and riches.

Plot Keywords:

Bowling | Tournament | Road | Amish | Biblical Interpretation

Cast

Woody Harrelson	...	Roy Munson
Randy Quaid	...	Ishmael
Vanessa Angel	...	Claudia
Bill Murray	...	Ernie McCracken
Chris Elliott	...	The Gambler
William Jordan	...	Mr. Boorg
Richard Tyson	...	Owner Of Stiffy's
Lin Shaye	...	Landlady
Zen Gesner	...	Thomas
Prudence Wright Holmes	...	Mrs. Boorg
Rob Moran	...	Stanley Osmanski
Daniel Greene	...	Calvert Munson (as Danny Green)
Will Rothhaar	...	Young Roy
Mark Charpentier	...	1979 Bowling Buddy
Brad Faxon	...	1979 Bowling Buddy

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for crude sex-related humor and a drug scene.

Runtime:

113 min | USA:117 min (R-rated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Finland:K-10 | Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (No. 34604) | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:12 | USA:R (director's cut)

Filming Locations:

Interstate 80, Reno, Nevada, USA

Company:

Rysher Entertainment

Trivia:

Urge Overkill are the band that sing "The Star Spangled Banner" at the Reno tournament.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the opening scene, a 7-pin suddenly appears.

Quotes:

Mr. Boorg: Ishmael always was a strange boy, but he means well.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Shadow Warrior (1997) (VG)

Soundtrack:

The Warmer Side of the Street

Bowling anyone?

Bobby and Peter Farrelly, the directors of "Kingpin" show a great flair for this type of comedy. Not having seen it when it first was released, we were lucky to catch it on cable the other night, and frankly, it proved to be a happy choice. The Farrellys had a good screen play by Barry Fanaro and Mort Nathan to work with, as they showed a talent for assembling a wonderful cast to make this a winning comedy the fun and exciting film it is.

The best thing in the film are Woody Harrelson and Bill Murray. Mr. Harrelson plays Roy Munson, the man who love bowling, but through an unfortunate incident, loses his ability to play the sport he was born to play. Woody Harrelson is wonderful in his portrayal of Munson. Bill Murray's role is much smaller, but he does wonders with it. Best of all is the way we see him at the bowling tournament in Reno with his teased hair in disarray.

The rest of the cast is good. Randy Quaid as Ishmael Boorg, gives a funny reading of his naive character. Also the attractive Vanessa Angel plays the woman who has an interest in the game.