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The Ringer (2005)
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Movie Review by Tony 
June 6th, 2006
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Director Barry W. Blaustein returns with his second film in THE RINGER. About 1/4 of those reading this column will remember that name. He was the director of 2000's wresting documentary BEYOND THE MAT. This time he decides to direct feature length with the comedy, THE RINGER. He should have searched a little harder for a screenplay, as this one borrows, steals, robs from other numerous other films, and follows one too many Hollywood plot contrivances to shake things up and tack something on, for the sake of keeping things interesting. But it's not interesting if it's been done to death and a tiresome exercise.
Johnny Knoxville stars as Steve Barker, who is looking to get a job promotion and take his life further. His job promotion is at the hands of his good friend Stavi (Luis Avalos). He does not have in it him to fire his old friend, so he hires him to cut the grass in his apartment complex. Which puts Knoxville in a good amount of debt and also lands his friends fingers being chopped off. Steve's Uncle Gary (Brian Cox) is also in a good amount of debt with local mob bosses. So he suggests in order to pay off his debt and for Steve to get enough money to get his friends fingers sewed back on, they fix the Special Olympics.
At first, Steve is hesitant, then he decides that desperate times call for desperate measures. He takes on the name of Jeffrey and pretends to be mentally challenged and joins the Special Olympics. He is not too well liked by a lot of the Special Olympics participates at first, as they think something is up with him and very, very fishy. He also meets an unbelievably nice and equally unbelievably gorgeous worker at the event in Lynn (Katherine Heigl). Steve has a thing for her, but she is dating a big lying phony jerk. This is where I start to have a lot of problems with this film, and it's the only the start of my problems with the film.
If Lynn is supposed to be who we believe she is, which is basically an angel. As she works with these Special Olympics, treats them with respect, and is about as kind as you can get. The only thing missing from her was a halo. What in the hell is she doing with this jerk, who anyone can see from a mile away is a jerk and will always be a jerk? For no other reason then to tack on an unnecessary and lazy romance with Steve and Lynn. Also to mix things up later on when she discovers that Steve is not really special, and has been playing her.
It also has to use the typical, the audience knows the truth, yet everyone else in the film is clueless angle. Then we have to wait for that magic moment, where the truth comes into focus and everyone goes "Ah, I get it now." This is okay in a film like FEVER PITCH, where the plot confusion makes sense and with the characters being who they are, you could see this happening. In a film like the RINGER, it only serves to shake up a paper thin plot. This film took 7 years to make, so either they spent too much time on the screenplay, or not enough. Considering the 7 year length, it appears to be the first choice.
Knoxville has what I call the Adam Sandler syndrome. I like Adam Sandler more in NON Adam Sandler movies ( SPANGLISH, PUNCH DRUNK LOVE) then I do in Adam Sandler movies. The same can be said for Knoxville. I really enjoyed his supporting role in WALKING TALL, he's a likable guy and has considerable charisma. But when he's being that Johnny Knoxville character of getting hit in the testicles, knocking things over, falling down, and the physical comedy, I'm rolling my eyes. I like him more in the roles that can show him doing other stuff, since he is capable of it.
THE RINGER, also uses the tired sports cliche of the big event, for the big championship, and is used at the end of the film. I know somewhere in here is a funny, heartfelt, and sincere film waiting to come out. But it got lost somewhere in the cliches, contrivances, and forced laughs. I'm not sure if people were laughing with them, or at them. For a lot of people, I would say at them. It's cheap humor, there's no real laughs here. Terry Funk even shows up at one point in this movie, but sadly has no lines.
The film did get an endorsement from the Special Olympics and is not offensive in anyway, but that does not mean it's any good either. The question I ask is this: is the movie funny or lovable? No. It goes through all the motions, but there is nothing real here for anyone to work with. After seeing MURDER BALL, which showed real Special Olympics full of courage and heart, THE RINGER is only a dummy.
-Tony Farinella
Grade: C
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