The Gutter (2024)
When it comes to comedies about the sport of bowling, 1996's Kingpin from Bobby and Peter Farrelly (There's Something About Mary) is top. That doesn't mean it is the be all and end all of bowling pictures. After all, Slap Shot (1977) is the quintessential hockey comedy, but then along came Goon (2011), which itself is spectacularly entertaining. We now have a new bowling comedy with The Gutter. But, man, it feels like the filmmakers didn't even try, because this movie is shockingly unfunny.
The story is that the obnoxious Walt
(Shameik Moore) gets a job at the AlleyCatz bowling alley, but the place may
get shut down due to code violations. As luck would have it, Walt is an
excellent bowler, and if he wins the championship, he can get the money to save
AlleyCatz. He needs a coach, though, and she comes in the form of disgraced
bowler, and now alcoholic, Shunk (D'Arcy Carden). The villain is legendary
bowler Linda "The Crusher" Curson, played by Oscar winner Susan Sarandon.
Besides Sarandon, no one here has any
comedic timing. That's okay, however, because the jokes are rarely funny.
Directors Isaiah and Yassir Lester reference the fact that their movie is full
of sports movie cliches, like the underdog hero and the has been coach, but
calling attention to the cliches doesn't make the movie automatically
hilarious.
The Gutter is currently playing
at The Prytania Theatres at Canal Place and is also available on streaming
services.
