On the heels of Dumb and Dumber, the Farrelly Brothers brought their unique mix of slapstick and toilet humor to the tale of another ‘loser’ with Kingpin. Roy Munson (Woody Harrelson) is a washed up pro bowler, who lost his game hand and most of his hair in 1979 thanks to a scheming rival—the creepy Ernie “Big Ern” McCracken (Bill Murray). His dreams shattered, Roy spends his time hawking bowling supplies to regional lanes that don’t want them and avoiding his emphysemic landlady (Lin Shaye)

One night while hanging out at the local lanes, Roy stumbles on to a young Amish man, Ishmael (Randy Quaid), who appears to be a better-than-average bowler. Roy decides to take the naïve young man under his wing; building him into a skillful hustler. Roy persuades Ishmael to accompany him to Reno, Nevada, where he figures the two will shock the national bowling championships. Along the way, they hook up with some interesting characters including the gorgeous and streetwise Claudia (Vanessa Angel) who just so happens to be running away from her abusive bowler boyfriend and Ishmael is introduced to several vices. Once the trio arrives in Sin City, they run into the infamous “Big Ern” McCracken at a huge bowling match. Ridiculous? Without a doubt.

However, the surprisingly good script by Barry Fanaro and Mort Nathan makes Kinpin a lot more fun than it probably has a right to be. While the talents of Harrelson and Quaid are undeniable, the real star here is Bill Murray. Though he only has a limited amount of screen time, he commands the audience’s attention. Stealing every scene he’s in, Ernie is proud of his standing of as a complete slime and revels in the fact that his actions have left Roy willing to stoop to his level for one more moment in the spotlight. Now, Ernie is the man to beat!

While there are long stretches that fall rather flat and jokes that go awry, it still put a smile on my face throughout. Te humor derives from one-liners and sight gags, the kinds of things the ZAZ team of Airplane! fame would appreciate. An Amish grandmother with whiskers is funny. The film’s use of hairpieces is hilarious. No one is immune. Since this is a Farrelly Brothers film, lots of jokes are made at the expense of Roy and his prosthetic hand. Naturally, some jokes and gags work better than others, but the general tone of the story is pleasing. Kingpin is worth watching at least once, if for no other reason than to check out the genius that is Bill Murray.

Presented in its original 2.39:1, Paramount’s 1080p transfer is very impressive. Definition is strong throughout and offers a film-like texture. Colors aren’t revelatory, but they are certainly satisfactory and serve the film well. Black levels are strong and flesh tones look natural. There are a few instances of edge haloing, but they are infrequent and don’t interfere with the viewing experience.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is adequate, though not stunning. Dialogue is clear throughout and music is nicely spaced. While there is a bit of surround support throughout, it’s never particularly powerful. Ambient effects are presented with some noticeable bass, but it’s nothing more than is required.

English, English SDH, French, Spanish subtitles are included, as are English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, French Dolby Digital 2.0 and Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 audio tracks.

The following extras are available:

  • Audio Commentary (extended version only): Peter and Bobby Farrelly deliver a well spoken and interesting track. They covers a wide variety of topics, including casting and performances, filming locations, visual effects specifics, deleted scenes, the brothers’ comedic style, shooting secrets, stories from the set, and more.
  • Kingpins: Extra Frames with The Farrelly Brothers (HD, 19:14): The directors recall about the film, discussing the script, the process of following up Dumb & Dumber, casting and performances, the film’s failure to meet financial expectations, its popularity on video, their evolution as filmmakers, thier bowling skills and more.
  • Kingpin Theatrical Trailer (HD, 1:27).