ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, July 27, 1996 TAG: 9607290077
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B-12 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: MOVIE REVIEW
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
"Kingpin" is an unfocused comedy that never quite decides what it's trying to be. The best moments are delightfully wicked, satiric assaults on sports-movie cliches. At its worst, the film takes those same cliches seriously and becomes thoroughly maudlin.
A long introduction shows how Roy Munson (Woody Harrelson) had his dreams of a professional bowling career nipped in the bud by the cynical Ernie McCracken (Bill Murray). Seventeen years later, Roy is a drunken, one-handed failure. When he sees Ishmael (Randy Quaid) bowling, he thinks he's found his ticket back to the big time.
But this young ``phenom" is Amish. Roy will have to get him off the farm and out to Reno for the million-dollar tournament. On the way, they encounter Claudia (Vanessa Angel), who wants part of the action.
As they did in "Dumb & Dumber," co-directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly try to make the film as ugly as possible, and much of their humor is based on really disgusting bodily functions. The performances are strong with Angel displaying some real strength and energy in her big scenes.
Devotees of gross-out humor will find a lot to like in "Kingpin," but they'll also plow through some long, slow scenes.
Kingpin HH
An MGM release playing at the Salem Valley 8. 113 min. Rated PG-13 for gross humor, sexual comedy, strong language.
LENGTH: Short : 39 linesby CNB