Now I am not usually a fan of American comedies, or at least these type of comedies, I prefer my comedies blacker, and maybe more British or for slapstick I prefer Hong Kong, or Wong Jing style comedies, but I saw this film a long time ago and enjoyed it, so I watched it on cable today. Sure it is ridiculous, but still a wonderful and fun tale with some hysterical performances, especially by the amazing Bill Murray. This movie is just plane fun.

REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS…

Woody Harrelson plays the up and coming bowling champion Roy Munson in the 1970’s. He joins up with the professional tour and leaves Ohio a hero. He even beats Ernie McCracken (Bill Murray) in a state championship. Then somehow his car gets sugar in his tank, and Ernie takes him under his “wing” leading him out to hustle, but leaving him out to dry when they are found out, and he has his right hand gut off in a bowling machine. 17 years later Roy is a drunk who makes no money, and can barely pay his rent. He has a hook for a hand, and a rubber hand that goes over it with his state championship ring on it, and while at a bowling alley he sees an Amish man who is possibly a bowling prodigy, Ishmael Boorg (Randy Quaid) who he tries to take under his wing to be a new bowling champion. Eventually he manages it because Ishmael’s Amish community needs $500,000 or it will be foreclosed on. Ishmael becomes better and better at bowling, but also starts smoking, drinking and even hustling with Roy, and they have one run in, where a rich man plays them for money, and they lie about having enough money, but end up running off with his girlfriend Claudia (Vanessa Angel) who partners with them to bring Ishmael to the bowling championship in Reno. Eventually they get to Reno, but Claudia’s ex boyfriend shows up and takes her away with their $45000 in stake money. And Ishmael breaks his hand getting mad at Ernie. So now Roy must bowl, even with his rubber hand, and bowl he does, down to the championship with Ernie, where he earns the name rubber man, but loses the tournament by 1 point, and has nothing. Back at home, Claudia shows up with double their money since her boyfriend had bet the money on Ernie, but Roy says no, and shows her a check for 500,000 from Trojan Condoms to be their Rubber man, and he gives the money to Ishmael and clears things up for him in his community, and happily leaves with Claudia.

Woody Harrelson and Bill Murray are amazing as these old men with pot bellies and comb overs. This movie really is hysterical, and you have to wonder how good they got at bowling, because it looks like they are bowling. A very enjoyable slapstick comedy and a story of a man finally growing up.