The Ringer (2005)

Johnny Knoxville (Jackass, A Dirty Shame) stars as a man who pretends to be mentally challenged so he can fix the Special Olympics. This morally dubious premise (the movie goes to great lengths to be sure you understand how appalling it is) is not as inflammatory as it could be--The Ringer is careful not to mock its mentally challenged characters. This is sometimes a source of strength, as some of the funniest jokes come from the perspective of the athletes--for example, a group of the other athletes recognize that Steve (Knoxville) is not the high-functioning mentally disabled guy he pretends to be, but they go along with the masquerade and even help Steve because they can't stand the snotty reigning champion. But this respectfulness also makes the movie feel cautious and inhibited (one imagines there's a wealth of un-PC jokes that got cut out of the script so it could pass muster with the Special Olympics, who gave the movie its blessing). As a result, the movie's real plot turns out to be a love story, as Steve falls for one of the Special Olympics volunteers (Katherine Heigl, Romy and Michelle: In the Beginning) and has to find sneaky ways to undermine her slimy boyfriend. All in all, an uneven comedy with occasional flashes of wicked wit. Also featuring the always welcome Brian Cox (Adaptation, X-Men 2). --Bret Fetzer Amazon.com

The Ringer

At first, this video makes you feel a little uncomfortable but ends up showing how great the people in the Special Olympics really are. January 6, 2009

Could Have Been So Much Better...

Let me start by saying that I liked this movie. Johnny Knoxville did a great job playing a guy who pretends he is mentally challenged so he can enter the Special Olympics. I think they handled the subject with class and it didn't turn into a mean spirited movie. A lot of the supporting cast were hilarious and often stole the show away from Johnny Knoxville, which was just awesome! The problems I have with this movie have to do with the plot. There were many funny scenes and jokes throughout, but the story itself felt like it was just thrown together. It was almost like they didn't know how to end it, so they just decided to end it. The love story part of the movie wasn't believable to me at all, and I know this movie is a comedy and far fetched to begin with but I just didn't feel the magic between the two main stars. I give this movie 3 out of 5 stars because it was funny, but I don't think it is a great movie by any stretch of the imagination. June 19, 2008

When the F**K did we get ice cream?!

If you know who Johnny Knoxville is, and enjoy his brand of comedy, then this movie is right up your alley. If not, then there is a decent chance you won't like it.

Steve Barker (Johnny Knoxville) is a good guy who has just been promoted. Unfortunately, part of his promotion is the responsibility of firing a really nice janitor named Stavi who loves to be elbow-deep in a toilet just a bit too much. Steven doesn't have the stomach for it, so he offers Stavi a job as a gardener at his apartment complex, with full benefits. Uh-oh, it's only a matter of time before Stavi decides to get elbow-deep into the bottom of an operating lawnmower, and Steve is forced to find a solution.

Enter Steve's low-life uncle Gary (Brian Cox), a gambling degenerate unable to pay his debts. Uncle Gary gets the brilliant idea to fix the Special Olympics. It's a sure-fire win, despite what the movie attempts to portray, especially if Steve pretends to be a retarded kid named Jeffy (I can count to potato!). This is where the first bit of comedy comes into play. Steve experiments with several looks, speech problems, and oddball details as he refines the Jeffy persona.

I know it's not right to laugh at retarded people, but I wouldn't be honest if I said it hasn't happened. And nearly everyone who has seen this movie has done the same to some degree. Thankfully enough, half of the comedy in this movie is not of the "laughing at" variety, but instead, the "laughing with" variety. Although, it must be noted that only a few of the actors were actually mentally handicapped.

The biggest problem with this movie is that it attempts to teach a lesson of equality, justice, and opportunity while doing the exact opposite. It's an attempt to show that competitors in the Special Olympics are just as talented as able-bodied people while making fun of them. Forgive me for being non-PC, but the preaching is a load of crap. If this movie took place in real life, Steve would have swept the entire Olympics as Jeffy, smoking Jimmy - the alleged "Deion Sanders of retards" - in every single race. Aside from that, the contrived love story angle of the movie was unnecessary and felt forced - it was probably simply a reason to cast a hot blonde into a role (Katherine Heigl).

So, which is it? Should I feel bad about laughing, even though scenes were put in the movie for that explicit purpose? Or should I take heed to the final message of acceptance? I think I'll go with the former and laugh; after all, if the disabled actors don't have a problem with the movie, consistently showing their self-deprecating senses of humor, then why should I? May 23, 2008

A Solidly Cute and Funny Comedy-Wow!

I am surprised. This movie was actually a cute and funny comedy done with the utmost respect for the mentally handicapped community. I am also surprised by how much I am beginning to like Johnny Knoxville, particularly after his acting in Daltry Calhoun, a film I suggest for fans of him. I thoroughly enjoyed this film. Most of my laughing was reserved for the mentally handicapped actors in this film who did such a terrific job in being aware of their own handicaps and having fun with it at Johnny Knoxville's expense.

Though, I admit I would never have gone to see this film in the theaters and probably would have never rented it, I am happy that a friend threw it in a bundle of films he gave me to borrow. If your in the mood for a solid comedy, or are just a bit down, I suggest seeing this film. The actors will inspire you. April 15, 2008

Funny!

Yeah, this movie might be offensive to some people who don't know how to take a joke. Just take the movie for what it is, and you won't have a problem with it.

This was a good movie-- there are lots of funny lines that you'll want to say over and over again. Johnny Knoxville is great in this! He... actually looks mentally handicapped. I'd rent it before buying it, it's one of those movies where you either love it or hate it. July 21, 2007

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