Kingpin parents guide

Kingpin Parent Guide

Overall D

Roy Munson (Woody Harrelson) was a great bowler until the day he met up with Ernie McCracken (Bill Murray).

Release date June 26, 1996

Violence C-
Sexual Content D+
Profanity C-
Substance Use --

Why is Kingpin rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Kingpin PG-13

Run Time: 113 minutes

Parent Movie Review

Roy Munson (Woody Harrelson) was a great bowler until the day he met up with Ernie McCracken (Bill Murray). Ernie puts Roy up to doing a con job, and in the end Roy is left holding the bowling ball with only one hand—his other hand being cut off in a ball return after the con is exposed. Seventeen years pass, and Roy and his rubber hand have hit a new low in life. Usually drunk, and living in a dump, Roy happens to meet Ishmael (Randy Quaid), an Amish man with a secret bowling habit that Roy feels can earn them a million dollars in the national bowling finals. The journey from the farm to the finals is where most of the story, along with the absurd humor, is found.

If you remember Dumb And Dumber, Kingpin will seem like deja vu. And if you liked Dumb And Dumber, quit reading now and go rent Kingpin—it’s right up your alley. For the rest of us that don’t see anything funny in jokes about flatulence, masturbation, religion, drug use, or disabilities, you would be well advised to steer clear of this video release.

Even though no nudity is seen in the film, sexual innuendo and discussion is almost continuous. True, every effort is made to demean men as much as women, but that asset pales in comparison to the rest of the content presented. Almost every conflict is resolved in violence, including one scene where Munson gets in a fight with Claudia (Vanessa Angel), a girl they meet who becomes part of their team. The scene has the two of them punching each other out, including a sequence where Munson repeatedly bashes her breasts.

For readers that think I’m taking this movie too seriously, please remember that my column is for parents looking for suitable entertainment for families. In this regard, Kingpin falls right into the gutter and can’t be recommended for even the over 13 crowd.

Starring Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid, Vanessa Angel. Running time: 113 minutes. Theatrical release June 26, 1996. Updated