Kingpin (1996)

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 | Amish | Road | Tournament | Hit In Groin

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.; Rated R for some crude sex-related humor. (edited version)

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:

The scene where Ishmael gets the garbage thrown at his feet by the truckload of "indians" is a reference to the public service announcement from the early 1970's.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: US Postal Service logo visible on mail box was not used in 1979.

Quotes:

Claudia: He said handSOME, not handLESS.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Welcome to Hollywood (1998)

Soundtrack:

Ooh La La

Low-brow +disgusting equals fun!

Before "There's Something About Mary" or "Me myself and Irene" there was Kingpin. Kingpin is a comedic masterpiece-not many comedies make me laugh out loud like this one. If the Farrellys were not attached this movie wouldn't be half as great as it was (This film was originally written by Barry Fanaro, and Mort Nathan) Roy Munson was a bowling champion in the late 1970s. Roy retires after a dirty trick pulled by Ernie McCracken costs him to lose his hand. Roy becomes an alcoholic and sinks very low going as far as sleeping with his repellent, disgusting Landlord. He meets up with Ishmael Boorg (Randy Quaid) in a bowling alley. After some convincing talks him into driving down to reno and enlist in a bowling contest. This is the Farrelly's second movie after dumb and dumber, and is some ways, a lot funnier. Bill Murray is genius and ad libs most of his lines. Woody Harrelson does a great job; He goes as far as shaving his head and goes all the way to look like a dead-beat. Randy Quaid is innocent and funny. **** stars.