The Ringer (2005)

Several of his fellow competitors immediately spot Steve as a fraud, but because they too would like to see the fall of Jimmy, the snooty reigning champion, they join forces to help THE RINGER win. Together they train Steve to become a better athlete and, most importantly, a better

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External Reviews

"The Ringer" could have been a better movie, but that would have depended more on the screenplay than the cast, which is effective and generates real affection. Knoxville is on target as Nothing Special, and Brian Cox demonstrates why he is not only in every movie made, but deserves to be. 

The Ringer” is a goofy comedy that uses the self-effacing Steve to good effect as he struggles over his ruse. The positive light that bathes the film make it a likable little ditty that will entertain all and offend very few, indeed.... It’s not great filmmaking but is certainly likable and nice. B-

--Robin and Laura Clifford

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An amiable and unpretentious comedy in the benign spirit of such Farrelly brothers' films as Shallow Hall and Stuck on You, The Ringer has got scruffy charm to spare. 

--TIM KNIGHT (Reel.com)

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I did love the fact the best lines and jokes were given to the actual Special Olympics athletes who co-starred with Knoxville. In fact, I would have enjoyed the movie more had all the lines been awarded to the actors with disabilities. As it was, it was an uncomfortable, seat-squirming blend of poking fun at the stereotypes associated with people with mental retardation and wagging a finger at those who do. C-

--Rebecca Murray (About.com)

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The filmmakers deserve credit for wading into these difficult waters looking for jokes; however, “The Ringer” plays it too safe, and by being careful with their footsteps, they’ve managed to walk around some potentially inspired material. 

--Brian Orndorf (eFilmCritic.com)

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Who is to blame for this unnecessary creation? Knoxville (a professional knucklehead, indeed) is just reading his lines. The real culprits are screenwriter Ricky Blitt and the Farrelly brothers, executive producers of the film, who should drop and give the world 20 as an apology...”The Ringer” is not exactly special. 

--Chelsea Bain (BostonHerald.com)

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Cast

Johnny Knoxville Men in Black II, The Dukes of Hazzard, Jackass: The Movie Brian Cox Braveheart, Troy, The Ring Katherine Heigl Valentine, Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, Bride of Chucky Zen Gesner Dumb & Dumber, Me, Myself & Irene, Shallow Hal Jed Rees Galaxy Quest, Elizabethtown, Lake Placid Bill Chott Galaxy Quest, Dude, Where's My Car?, Dancing at the Blue Iguana Edward Barbanell [more]

I got a few chuckles out of the film, early on when it was just flat-out making fun of retarded people -- hey, I can laugh at "taboo" things as well as the next guy -- and later, when some of the athletes cracked a few solid one-liners. But mostly I sat in awe at the film's wrong-headedness, at its inability to convey even its very basic message about all people being worthy of respect. Sorry, "The Ringer." This isn't the Special Olympics. You don't get a medal just for playing. D --Eric D. Snider (EricDSnider.com) “The Ringer” isn’t going to rewrite any of the rules of comedy, but that is not its endgame. It wants you to laugh at a movie about mentally challenged people without feeling guilty about it, and it accomplishes that goal in spades.  --David Medsker (Bullz-eye.com) “The Ringer” has its heart in the right place, and it’s reasonably well made from the technical perspective, with Mark Irwin’s cinematography and Mark Mothersbaugh’s score (which makes ample use of Elmer Bernstein’s famous theme from “The Magnificent Seven”) standing out. But while it’s certainly not as bad as you might expect, neither is it as good as you’d like. C --Frank Swietek

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