There might be maybe three movies that feature the sport of bowling as a central plot line. And depending on your personal feelings about the sport, they’re either the best bowling movies ever … or an affront to the very sport.
Of course, you must start off with the classic The Big Lebowski and all of its bowling references and in-jokes.
There was also a late 1990’s movie called Kingpin, featuring Woody Harrelson, Bill Murray and Jeff Daniels. I mean, it had some funny moments in it, for sure …
And really, the only other film with any sort of central bowling theme has to be the musical number from Grease 2. Yes, there was a sequel to Grease. And realistically, the only people who even remember there was a sequel to Grease were the ones who probably saw Grease 2 on one of the cable channels at 2:00 in the afternoon on a sick day from school.
I say all this because, while working on today’s blog post, I came across THIS trailer for an upcoming film. And I watched this trailer. And hoo boy this film looks like it could be a complete raunch-fest. Somehow the producers gathered Shamiek Moore (the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse series), D’Arcy Carden (The Good Place), and Susan Sarandon (yes, THAT Susan Sarandon) into one of those sports stories about the underdog who goes up against the established talent for the big prize.
Folks … let me introduce you to The Gutter.
Okay … some thoughts here.
We’re not talking a deep, nuanced rivalry saga between Earl Anthony and Chris Schenkel here. This film is more along the lines of sports movies like Slap Shot or The Bad News Bears or even Men in Brooms (that one is all about curling, and it’s pretty funny).
And yeah, nobody’s figured out yet how to make actors actually look like bowlers. Seriously. No follow-through on your shots? It’s like you just run up to the lane, drop the ball on the floor, and the ball suddenly rolls into the pocket like it has a remote control guidance system? Yeesh.
I mean … maybe … maybe this is worth watching if I have two hours to kill and need a good hard laugh. I hope.
Me? I might just source some old bowling TV shows instead. I mean, THESE guys knew how to throw a ball into the pocket. Look at that follow-through. Look at that form. Look at Howard Tupper wave to all the small fry watching at home. 😀
Chuck The Writer 
Remember Celebrity Bowling, back in the 70’s? None of those movies woud’ve been made without it, IMPO.
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Now there’s a fond memory – Tup, weather maps and all.
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