"Kingpin" (1996)
The character: Ernie McCracken
What about him: A professional bowler, a con man, a
showboater, a hairdresser's horror.
Murray moment: Watching his competitor prepare to bowl: "It
all comes down to this roll. Roy Munson, a man-child with a dream to topple
bowling giant Ernie McCracken. If he strikes, he's the 1979 Odor-Eaters
Champion. He's got one foot in the frying pan and one in the pressure cooker.
Believe me, as a bowler, I know that right about now, your bladder feels like an
overstuffed vacuum cleaner bag and your butt is kinda like an about-to-explode
bratwurst ... Was I talking out loud? Was I? Sorry. Good luck."
Analysis: As the vainglorious villain of the Farrelly
brothers' "Kingpin" (the first time he's played the out-and-out Bad Guy), Murray
gets more mileage out of a flyaway comb-over than you'd think was humanly
possible. He appears only at the beginning and end of the movie, but his
egomaniacal star turn at the climactic bowling championship (perhaps the first
time his character has ever cared about winning) is the apotheosis of Nick the
lounge singer's wildest dreams. "I've finally got enough money that I can buy my
way out of anything!" he crows triumphantly. "Finally, Big Ern is above the law!
It's a great feeling!"
(Everett Collection)
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