"Kingpin" is most definitely not a clever comedy as it takes story elements from "The Hustler" and it's sequel "The Color of Money" and combines them into a story about an Amish ten pin bowler called Ishmael and his mentor Roy Munson, but it is fun in a daft sort of way. What is for sure is that whilst "Kingpin" has a storyline it is as much about the set piece gags as it is about the journey and whilst more recent comedies have pushed the boundaries of what is good taste "Kingpin" has it's moments where an absurd joke borders on the cringe making. All of which makes "Kingpin" a rather daft but ultimately enjoyable movie with gag after gag which will either make you laugh or cringe.

Roy Munson (Woody Harrelson - Doc Hollywood) was on the verge of greatness as a ten pin bowler that is until he was tricked by a rival bowler and loses his bowling hand to a group of punks when a hustle goes wrong. Some 17 years later and Roy is a drunken salesman with little money and a terrible prosthetic hand that is until he discovers Ishmael (Randy Quaid - National Lampoon's Vacation) a young Amish man with a great bowling hand. Having convinced Ishmael that he could be great and help win some money to save his Amish community they both hit the road and head for the bowling championships in Reno. Along the way they hustle their way through towns where they pick up Claudia (Vanessa Angel) who helps them escape from an irate gamble. But having reached Reno they face their biggest test in champion bowler Ernie McCraken (Bill Murray - Caddyshack), the same man who all those years earlier caused Roy to lose his hand.

As already mentioned "Kingpin" basically takes its lead from Paul Newman's "The Hustler" and its sequel "The Color of Money" creating a story similar to both but set in the competitive world of ten pin bowling. So what we get is Roy Munson who was once a champion bowler till he lost a hand thanks to a rival tricking him and now some 17 years later is a drunk salesman who spots a talented young bowler and tries to capitalize on his talents, mentoring him. That storyline in fact could have been quite clever if it wasn't for the fact that "Kingpin" is a comedy fist and foremost, a comedy which revels in basically being daft. Despite the focus on being funny the way "Kingpin" combines elements from both of Paul Newman's movies works as a decent vehicle for the gags as it winds its way to the expected big bowling showdown between Roy and his nemesis Ernie McCracken.

But as already mentioned "Kingpin" does focus on being funny and it is packed full of daft and occasionally cringe worthy jokes. Many of the best jokes revolve around Ishmael not being very worldly and so along the way we watch him make a fool of himself as he experiences life outside the Amish community for the first time. But then jokes surrounding Munson and his hook for a hand, his creepy landlady and the sexy Claudia all work equally as well. Although it has to be said that whilst there are plenty of jokes which go and succeed in getting laughs there are those which try to make you cringe, in particular Munson's bedroom encounter with his landlady, a haunting scene if ever there was one.

As for the acting well to be honest there isn't a bad performance in "Kingpin" with Woody Harrelson as Roy Munson, Randy Quaid as Ishmael and Billy Murray as Ernie McCracken all putting in good performances as does Vanessa Angel as the sexy Claudia. But whilst they are all good and fun performances it does feel all a little bit too scripted and rehearsed so where as you might expect Billy Murray to deliver some sarcastic comment it feels more like he is just reciting his dialogue. And that is the same of all of them and as such the humour never comes across as spontaneous or natural which is a shame.

What this all boils down to is that "Kingpin" is a fun movie and between gags which are aimed at making you laugh and others which go for the cringe it does for the most work. It does suffer from feeling all a little too scripted and the humour feels to orchestrated rather than spontaneous but by the time it is finished you will definitely have been entertained be it by Roy Munson and his hook for a hand, the naivety of Ishmael or the sexiness of Claudia.