We Forgot That Kevin Costner Used to Be Funny
Rewatching ‘Tin Cup’ is a good reminder.
In the past ten years, Kevin Costner became one of the last ambassadors for American Western. The masculine characters he portrays in movies like Let Him Go, The Highwaymen, or the television show, Yellowstone, are tough guys with old-fashioned values. They never go down without a fight — but they’re also smart enough to know when words are more powerful than punches. In my mind, Costner’s persona always will be a mixture of those firm-handed and resilient figures.
For that reason, though, it’s easy to forget when he took on much lighter roles — which showcased his goofy comedic touch.
In Ron Shelton’s sports-comedy, Tin Cup, Costner plays a has-been golf pro — a burnout with a cheeky smile and a sense of humor. Roy McAvoy doesn’t throw punches, he swings clubs. He doesn’t threaten with words, he uses them to joke. He’s an unshaven macho loser with nothing but pride. A gambler with an insatiable drive for winning — bets, rounds, women, it doesn’t matter. As long as there’s a risk involved, he’s invigorated.
At the end of the 80s, Shelton already proved that he knew sports beyond the cinematic level. He was a minor league baseball player before he went on to pursue a film career. His directorial debut, Bull Durham, and his…
