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 is explaining his situation to the other guys, he fixes his pants twice when Lynn knocks on the door.

Quotes:

Mark: Why'd you scratch his C D?
Steve Barker: Jeffy just admiring it.
Mark: Do it again and you'll be admiring my butt from the pavement with a straw.
Steve Barker: ...What?
Mark: You heard me!

Movie Connections:

Features Dirty Dancing (1987)

Soundtrack:

Calvera

Worth it, but not for laughs

You walk into the theater thinking you will laugh your butt off, but I came out judging my own moral values strongly(whether the director planned for that or not). The characters in the movie are stressed to breaking points over character strength and ethical moral values. It teaches(and shows) a side we rarely see in today's rude and unethical world(take the plot of this movie for example). I walked out and thought: Are mentally disabled any different than the rest of us? Since everyone is different, how can we call a select few...special? My friend walked out of the movie saying: One of the best comedies I've ever seen. Now, me, I'm trying to pretend I liked it for laughs, but I didn't. I sit here typing away my thoughts this movie made me think. I sit here thinking of the people I've hurt, the friends I've lost, and realize that there are just not enough good people in the world. This movie, whether you think it or not, has given me a whole new outlooks towards the disabled, a new outlook on virtues and a new outlook on my own character. I am very amazed of how I walked out of the theater and frankly I'm proud of myself. I hope that this movie helps you reflect yourself.