The Ringer
starring: Johnny Knoxville, Brian Cox, Katherine Heigl, Jed Rees, Bill Chott
directed by: Barry W. Blaustein
directed by: Barry W. Blaustein
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Product Description:
Pressured by a greedy uncle (Brian Cox) and a pile of debt, lovable loser Steve Barker (Knoxville) resorts to an unthinkable, contemptible, just-crazy-enough-to-work scheme. He pretends to be mentally challenged to rig the upcoming Special Olympics and bring home the gold. But when Steve's fellow competitors get wise to the con, they inspire him to rise to the greatest challenge of all: becoming a better person.
Amazon.com:
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
Pressured by a greedy uncle (Brian Cox) and a pile of debt, lovable loser Steve Barker (Knoxville) resorts to an unthinkable, contemptible, just-crazy-enough-to-work scheme. He pretends to be mentally challenged to rig the upcoming Special Olympics and bring home the gold. But when Steve's fellow competitors get wise to the con, they inspire him to rise to the greatest challenge of all: becoming a better person.
Amazon.com:
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
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- 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.
Rating: 
- 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 ... Read More
Rating: 
- 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 ... Read More
Rating: - 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 atJohnny Knoxville's ... Read More
Rating: - 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.
- The RingerAt first, this video makes you feel a little uncomfortable but ends up showing how great the people in the Special Olympics really are.
- 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 ... Read More
- 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 ... Read More
- 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 atJohnny Knoxville's ... Read More
- 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.
