Brock Landers
12-18-2000, 03:39 PM
"Kingpin" A Brock Landers Overview of A Farrelly Brothers Film (8/10)
"Kingpin" is definitely not for the weak of stomach viewers out there. It is full of bad taste, lowbrow humor and outright vile remarks…but if you're like me, than you dig this stuff. I mean, it is jam packed with moments of comic ingeniousness and is easily Bill Murray's best film role in years (not including Mr. Blume in "Rushmore"…amazing performance)…it is absolutely impossible not to laugh when we see him at the bowling championship, with his comb-over hair, western shirt and rose bowling ball…and those commercials for adopting a family are hilarious. I heard that the Farrelly's gave Murray a lot of room to improvise around quirks and one-liners and by the end of this film, we know why Murray has a talent for comedy, he was born for it. In fact, according to the commentary on the DVD, Murray just made most of his stuff up…amazing…
With that said, the Farrelly's can be hit-and-miss with their jokes and timing…but they usually keep us interested throughout, one way or another. Now, there is definitely nothing sweeter than the story of an Amish kid and his love of bowling. Ah yes…the sight of a good barn-raising ("Witness"-style)…the sound of bowling pins crashing together…the smell of…well…you catch my drift. "Kingpin" follows the career of Roy Munson (Woody Harrelson), who wins the 1969 $1,000 Odor Eaters Bowling Championship…then suffers a tragic "mishap" after being left hanging (after the 'ol bait-and-switch) by bowling hustler Ernie "Big Ern" McCracken (Bill Murray in a one-of-a-kind performance). Years later, sporting a hook where his hand used to be, the down-and-out Munson (now a novelty machine vendor…glow-in-the-dark condoms that is) dreams of recapturing his disco-rific glory days, when he spots his meal ticket…Ishmael Boorg (Randy Quaid…in Cousin Eddie mode), a big, dumb kid with a "Spinal Tap" bowl-cut who just so happens to have a kick-ass bowling curve and "great" stats. Munson wants to coach him to be great and win the Championship, setting them both up money-wise…but enter complication…Ishmael is Amish…enter another complication…Big Ern…and nipply chick (the babe from the "Weird Science" TV show a few years back on TBS or USA or one of those cable channels…)…
Overall, "Kingpin" is the Farrelly Brothers at the top of their form. Lots to laugh at. Lots to not ponder…just the way I like it sometimes. Great flick. (8/10)…
(DVD Note: This disc is worth the asking price just for the commentary alone…I mean, the Farrelly's do great commentary (I can't wait for "Me, Myself & Irene")…these guys love makin' flicks and have a blast doing it. We learn in the commentary about…original lines cut by the MPAA "Boy, the milk sure tastes better straight from the spigot (think milking the cow, which turns out to be a bull)…some great little stories…"buddies" who were in the film…"happy accidents"…and lots of behind-the-scenes Murray tales (think, up-to-no-good-style)…comments about ability (Harrelson can't bowl for crap, while Quaid bowls a 188 average)…they also make jokes about their own films and continuity brain-farts…all in all good shite. The picture is good, but a little soft at times…at least its Anamorphic Widescreen…you also get a little grain…so it's not a perfect transfer. The sound is worthy…you get good clear dialogue and a kick-ass soundtrack.)…
"Kingpin" is definitely not for the weak of stomach viewers out there. It is full of bad taste, lowbrow humor and outright vile remarks…but if you're like me, than you dig this stuff. I mean, it is jam packed with moments of comic ingeniousness and is easily Bill Murray's best film role in years (not including Mr. Blume in "Rushmore"…amazing performance)…it is absolutely impossible not to laugh when we see him at the bowling championship, with his comb-over hair, western shirt and rose bowling ball…and those commercials for adopting a family are hilarious. I heard that the Farrelly's gave Murray a lot of room to improvise around quirks and one-liners and by the end of this film, we know why Murray has a talent for comedy, he was born for it. In fact, according to the commentary on the DVD, Murray just made most of his stuff up…amazing…
With that said, the Farrelly's can be hit-and-miss with their jokes and timing…but they usually keep us interested throughout, one way or another. Now, there is definitely nothing sweeter than the story of an Amish kid and his love of bowling. Ah yes…the sight of a good barn-raising ("Witness"-style)…the sound of bowling pins crashing together…the smell of…well…you catch my drift. "Kingpin" follows the career of Roy Munson (Woody Harrelson), who wins the 1969 $1,000 Odor Eaters Bowling Championship…then suffers a tragic "mishap" after being left hanging (after the 'ol bait-and-switch) by bowling hustler Ernie "Big Ern" McCracken (Bill Murray in a one-of-a-kind performance). Years later, sporting a hook where his hand used to be, the down-and-out Munson (now a novelty machine vendor…glow-in-the-dark condoms that is) dreams of recapturing his disco-rific glory days, when he spots his meal ticket…Ishmael Boorg (Randy Quaid…in Cousin Eddie mode), a big, dumb kid with a "Spinal Tap" bowl-cut who just so happens to have a kick-ass bowling curve and "great" stats. Munson wants to coach him to be great and win the Championship, setting them both up money-wise…but enter complication…Ishmael is Amish…enter another complication…Big Ern…and nipply chick (the babe from the "Weird Science" TV show a few years back on TBS or USA or one of those cable channels…)…
Overall, "Kingpin" is the Farrelly Brothers at the top of their form. Lots to laugh at. Lots to not ponder…just the way I like it sometimes. Great flick. (8/10)…
(DVD Note: This disc is worth the asking price just for the commentary alone…I mean, the Farrelly's do great commentary (I can't wait for "Me, Myself & Irene")…these guys love makin' flicks and have a blast doing it. We learn in the commentary about…original lines cut by the MPAA "Boy, the milk sure tastes better straight from the spigot (think milking the cow, which turns out to be a bull)…some great little stories…"buddies" who were in the film…"happy accidents"…and lots of behind-the-scenes Murray tales (think, up-to-no-good-style)…comments about ability (Harrelson can't bowl for crap, while Quaid bowls a 188 average)…they also make jokes about their own films and continuity brain-farts…all in all good shite. The picture is good, but a little soft at times…at least its Anamorphic Widescreen…you also get a little grain…so it's not a perfect transfer. The sound is worthy…you get good clear dialogue and a kick-ass soundtrack.)…