The Ringer (2005)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Barry W. Blaustein

Writer (WGA):

Ricky Blitt (written by)

Release Date:

23 December 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sport

Tagline:

Only a jackass would fix the Special Olympics

Plot:

A young guy's only option to erase a really bad debt is to rig the Special Olympics by posing as a contestant.

Plot Keywords:

Special Olympics | Hurdles | Dance | Pentathlon | Beautiful Woman

Cast

Johnny Knoxville	...	Steve Barker
Brian Cox	...	Gary Barker
Katherine Heigl	...	Lynn Sheridan
Jed Rees	...	Glen
Bill Chott	...	Thomas
Edward Barbanell	...	Billy
Leonard Earl Howze	...	Mark
Geoffrey Arend	...	Winston
John Taylor	...	Rudy
Luis Avalos	...	Stavi
Leonard Flowers	...	Jimmy
Zen Gesner	...	David Patrick
Steve Levy	...	Steve Levy
Alcides Dias	...	Michael (as Al 'Train' Dias)
Mike Cerrone	...	Paulie

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language and some drug references.

Runtime:

94 min | Argentina:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

UK:12A | Ireland:PG | Germany:6 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Malaysia:U | Argentina:13 | Iceland:LH | Finland:K-7 | Netherlands:6 | South Korea:12 | Greece:K | USA:PG-13 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Conundrum Entertainment

Trivia:

The cartoon that Johnny Knoxville's character is watching while laying on his couch in the beginning of the movie is "Family Guy" (1999). The episode is "Family Guy: Mr. Griffin Goes to Washington (#3.3)" (2001), which was written by Ricky Blitt, the writer of the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jeffy and the other guys are sitting next to the pool, the water bottle sitting on the table changes from full to half-full just after Jimmy shows up and just after the camera goes back to the guys.

Quotes:

Winston: Hey steve, ask me *any* movie.
Steve Barker: Okay, hmm...”Jaws"
Winston: That's a good movie.

Movie Connections:

References "T.J. Hooker" (1982)

Soundtrack:

Sweet Ride

Underneath, This Has A Sweet Tone To It

A typical modern-day comedy so some of its crudeness with sexual innuendos or remarks, but overall this is a full notch or two above most because underneath it is a soft, good- hearted feel to it. It's also a nice vehicle for a positive image to be presented for mentally- challenged people (formerl called "retards"). Those guys are as much of stars in this film as actors Johnny Knoxville and Katherine Heigl.

Knoxville plays the main character, "Steve Barker," a guy for (for good reasons, if that's possible) fakes being "handicapped" and enters The Special Olympics. He is hoping to win a big monetary prize to help pay for a friend's surgery and to help out his degenerate uncle who could be killed if he doesn't pay gamblers what he owes. Brian Cox plays "Uncle Gary." Both the man who needs the surgery ("Stavi," played by Luis Avalos) and Cox are hilarious in their roles, one being sympathetic and the other sleazy.

Along the way, Knoxville falls in love with Special Olympics worker "Lynn Sheridan" (Heigl). Hey, who wouldn't? This woman is unbelievably attractive and plays a good-hearted character.

Most of the funny lines in the movie are delivered by the Special Olympics athletes. Unrealistic? Yes, credibility is not high in that regard as as 99.9 percent of all the world's population would't be clever enough to deliver some of these lines but they are a hoot to hear. The fact you hear them uttered by "mentally-challenged" folks makes it even more outrageous and funny, of course. I can't remember how many times I just laughed out loud at something being said.

And, the film ends on a nigh note despite our hero being discovered as a fraud. The whole story is just a lot of a fun and is truly a feel-good film when it's all over. Highly recommended, but not for small kids because of the language.