I inserted a clip from Kingpin (1996) into one of my posts last week, and for good reason: It is one of the funniest films of the 1990’s. Pulling off a successful comedy is much more difficult than it looks, and is usually tougher to execute than a strong drama. Woody Harrelson, as a washed-up bowler, and Randy Quaid, as an Amish farmer who sneaks away with Harrleson to bowl, are great at playing comedy here, but Bill Murray clearly steals the show with several memorable scenes. This was the two-headed directing team of the Farrelly brothers’ follow-up to their 1994 hit, Dumb & Dumber. In my estimation, Kingpin is their best work to date.
_________________________
There’s Something About Mary was their masterpiece.
Dumb and Dumber, their nadir.
_______