Kingpin
Kingpin

Kingpin

2003TV ShowEndedEnglish

Kingpin is an American crime drama television series which debuted on the NBC network in the U.S. and CTV in Canada on February 2, 2003 and lasted 6 episodes. NBC's answer to The Sopranos and also influenced by The Godfather, Macbeth and Traffik, the story was about a Mexican drug trafficker named Miguel Cadena and his family life. It was to be followed by a television series, but low ratings canceled those plans. Commercials for the mini-series on NBC featured the song "Más" by the Mexican band Kinky.

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IMDb6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes47%
Metacritic57/100
Google Users71%
Director: The Farrelly BrothersGenres: Comedy, Sport

Plot Summary

Roy Munson, a former bowling prodigy whose career was ruined by a ruthless competitor, now lives a meager existence as a pool cleaner. He discovers Ishmael "Ish" Boorg, a naive but talented Amish bowler, and sees a chance for redemption and riches. Roy trains Ish to compete in the Reno tournament, aiming to win enough money to buy back his former bowling alley, but their journey is complicated by the menacing return of their old nemesis, Ernie McCracken.

Critical Reception

Kingpin received mixed reviews from critics and was a box office disappointment. While some praised its quirky humor and the performances of its lead actors, many found the plot predictable and the comedy occasionally juvenile. Audiences were similarly divided, with some enjoying its over-the-top style and others put off by its edgier jokes.

What Reviewers Say

  • A crude but occasionally funny comedy that relies heavily on its eccentric characters and sports setting.
  • Harrelson and Quaid deliver committed performances, but the film struggles to maintain comedic momentum.
  • Despite its lowbrow humor, the movie has a certain charm and a surprisingly heartfelt core.

Google audience: Google users generally found Kingpin to be a funny and entertaining movie, appreciating the outlandish characters and the unique premise. Many viewers enjoyed the comedic chemistry between Woody Harrelson and Randy Quaid, with some highlighting Bill Murray's memorable villainous role. While some critics pointed to the humor being a bit too coarse at times, the overall audience sentiment leans positive, viewing it as a cult classic with rewatch value.

Fun Fact

The filmmakers originally envisioned the role of Roy Munson for Tom Hanks, who turned it down. Woody Harrelson then became their second choice.

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