Kingpin

with Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid, Bill Murray
Written by Barry Fanaro and Mort Nathan
Directed by Peter & David Farrelly (Rysher Entertainment)
by Mark Phinney

There is a gift that Bill Murray possesses – he is the greatest scene stealer in history. I mean, the man could steal a scene from God. In Kingpin, the latest from local boys the Farrelly brothers (Dumb and Dumber), Murray puts in one of his best performances since What About Bob?. This film is piled high with great cameos and amazingly warped sequences, merely added bonuses to one of the best films of the year.

Woody Harrelson stars as a down-on-his-luck ex-bowling champ whose career (and bowling arm) is cut short (thanks to Murray). He’s reduced to hawking ball cleaners (bowling balls, sickie) from low-life alley to even-lower-life alley when he feasts his eyes on Ishmael, the Amish bowling wonder (Randy Quaid). Harrelson automatically sees Ishmael as his ticket back to bowling glory and spirits him off on a cross-country jaunt, destination: The world championship in Reno. Their ride takes many twists and turns (natch), with great cameos by Roger Clemens as an ass-kicking hick (go figure) and Chris Elliott, who makes an, um, indecent proposal to Harrelson and Quaid which culminates in one of the most surreal comedic scenes in a long time. (I must also throw in a good word for Boston yuk-meister Jackie Flynn who, in his film debut, makes a great henchman.) The brothers do stick to some of their previous antics, but this is clearly a step in a new, more polished and adult(!) direction. And, oh yeah, it’s just plain funny to boot. When you watch this film, don’t just root for the underdog, stand up and scream (either from excitement or fear of Bill Murray’s hair – trust me, I’ve seen the movie).