Review

A one-handed bowling wiz takes a moronic Amish farmer and tries to turn him into the next champion. What sounds like a pitch from The Player actually turns out to be an unexpectedly funny, dark-edged entry from the "dumb" school of comedy filmmaking. Harrelson plays a potential champion bowler whose brush with rival Murray ends up with his bowling hand being cut off. Years later and now an alcoholic grifter, Harrelson stumbles upon Quaid, a talented Amish bowler who hides his ability from his family. With just the sparest of double talk, Harrelson and Quaid are on the road to Reno to enter the national championship. Much of Kingpin is in the stupid vein, and does it wallow in it. But it's also very cynical, and much as you may, you can't help but laugh. Kingpin's also of note for three prominent stars having desperately bad hair days. ("R" version containing scenes not in original theatrical release)