This movie is more a sentimental success than a great comedy. The Farrellys really dropped the comedy ball after "Dumb and Dumber" and "Something about Mary!"

Even the bull cum scene here seemed like a desperate attempt to repeat the more elaborate, better thought out laugh, of the hair (cum) gel scene from "Something about Mary."

Woody Harrelson, despite his Cheers fame, is just not that funny of a lead. He is however a good actor, and you always care about his character.

There are two threads in this movie that hit the funny bone:

(1) Aggressive ladies: when Harrelson's landlady jumps him, rides him, does the nasty tongue shit, and declares "What is it about good sex that makes me have to crap?" that was hilarious, as was the scene where the good-looking girl fistfights and kicks Harrelson when he's down;

(2) Bill Murray: this dude never ever fails in a comedy, his aggressive insincerity unmatched by any other actor, and when they mess his hair up towards the end, he nails some of the movie's biggest laughs.

Otherwise, the secret of this movie, and the reason it failed at the box office, was that the Farrellys played it tame with the comedy, and gave their all instead to the sweet sentiment of a down and out loser making friends, finding meaning, and bettering himself.

For audiences, that wasn't enough to get them to show up, as they could see from the trailer this was a Farrelly comedy at half-throttle, with no Jim Carrey, Bill Murray only in a small part, and the general sadness of disability dragging any laughs down. Audiences were also turned off by the fear that the movie was laughing at religion, although those who went soon realized the movie was very respectful to the Amish.

This is a lighthearted romp, that is a postscript to the Farrelly's full bore comedies, but which is nonetheless charming, and especially so for bowling fans. :)