History Film / Kingpin

* The AllegedCar: In many ways, Roy's car is a reflection of the man hinself. It was pristine during the film's prologue in 1979. However, the intervening seventeen years have not been kind to it with the bodywork looking significantly worse, one of the panels is a mismatched colour, and its engine is clapped out.

* NotDistractedByTheSexy: Ismael is perhaps the only straight man in the entire film who is immune to Claudia's charms.
-->'''Ishmael:''' ''(snickering)'' I didn't want to be the one to tell him, but with those narrow hips, that girl couldn't have more than 6 or 7 children!

* MsFanservice: Claudia, which [[ShowSomeLeg she uses extensively to help with hustling bowling games]]. As she herself says, "I'm every guy's type."
* NotDistractedByTheSexy
--->'''Ishmael:''' ''(snickering)'' I didn't want to be the one to tell him, but with those narrow hips, that girl couldn't have more than 6 or 7 children!

* PersonAsVerb: To be "Munsoned" develops as an in-universe slang to describe a situation in which someone (anyone) has failed to live up to their potential, got screwed over and is in deep shit as a result. Even the Amish are aware of (and use) it. When Roy introduces himself to the administrators at the bowling tournament, they snigger upon hearing his name.

* MistreatmentInducedBetrayal: Stanley [[DomesticAbuse hits]] Claudia after she mocks his bowling skills during his bet with Roy. Because of this, she helps Roy and Ishmael escape Stanley's wrath after he learns Roy was gambling using mostly TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}} money. She even tells them as they escape that [[BerserkButton she will not stand for being hit]].

* {{Jerkass}}: Ernie [=McCracken=] to an outrageous degree, and Roy to a lesser extent. [=McCraken=] takes pretty much every opportunity to rub his superior skill in people's faces, sabotaged Roy's car in the prologue after losing to him, took advantage of his naivety to get him into hustling which resulted in Roy's GameBreakingInjury, and more.

* MemeticMutation: InUniverse as Roy's last name Munson has unflatteringly become slang for getting screwed over in the worst way.

* PersonAsVerb: To be "Munsoned" develops as an in-universe slang to describe a situation in which someone (anyone) has failed to live up to their potential and is in deep shit as a result. Even the Amish are aware of (and use) it. When Roy introduces himself to the administrators at the bowling tournament, they snigger upon hearing his name.
* RichesToRags: Thanks to Ernie's actions, Roy has gone from a State Amateur Bowling Champion to a bowling supplies salesman trying to get by.

** Woody from ''Series/{{Cheers}} was once stated to have been a talented bowler back in Indiana, although he gave up the sport after being involved in a bowling-related incident.

* ActorAllusion: Roy is offered a million dollars by a playboy gambler for a night with his partner, à la ''Film/IndecentProposal''.

* AwesomeEgo: Ernie is a shady piece of shit and quite the con man, he is also a really good bowler. He even wins the final match against Roy during the film's climax.

* AwesomeEgo: Ernie is a shady piece of shit and quite the con man, he is also a really good bowler. He even won the final match against Roy during the film's climax.

* * DomesticAbuser: Despite referring to her as "dear" Stanley is shown to be physically abusive to Claudia, at which point she decides to flee with Roy and Ishmael.

* TheAce: Roy in his prime during the 70's as well as his old partner, Ernie [=McCracken=] (Creator/BillMurray)... at first. He later proves himself to be a BrokenAce.

-->'''Claudia:''' Look, Mr. Munster, you're not exactly the smartest guy I ever ran across.\\

* {{Jerkass}}: [=McCracken=] to an outrageous degree, and Roy to a lesser extent. [=McCraken=] takes pretty much every opportunity to rub his superior skill in people's faces, sabotaged Roy's car in the prologue after losing to him, took advantage of his naivety to get him into hustling which resulted in Roy's GameBreakingInjury, and more.

* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: [=McCracken=] refuses to be addressed by anything but "Ernie" or "Big Ern."
* PersonAsVerb: To be "Munsoned" develops as an in universe slang for anyone who is in deep shit.

* DistractedByTheSexy: This becomes the group's main strategy after Claudia joins them. They meet one farmer who is immune to her charms, but an adorable baby lamb does the trick.

* DistractedByTheSexy: This becomes the group's main strategy after Claudia joins them.

* MsFanservice: Claudia, which [[ShowSomeLeg she uses extensively to help with hustling bowling games]].

* KarmaHoudini: [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig-zagged]]. It was [=McCracken's=] idea to hustle the bowler who cut off Roy's hand. He fled before Roy was confronted, and went on to become an unbeatable (yet incredibly smug and obnoxious) pro bowler, even winning the tournament in the climax. However, Claudia's BastardBoyfriend Stanley arrives soon after, accusing Roy of stealing his gambling winnings. Roy pins the blame on [=McCracken=], whom Stanley vows to find and kill.

* BastardBoyfriend: Despite referring to her as "dear" Stanley is shown to be physically abusive to Claudia, at which point she decides to flee with Roy and Ishmael.

* VehicularSabotage: To get back at Roy for winning against him, Ernie sabotages his car by putting sugar in his gas tank, blowing the engine and causing $2,000 in damages.