Dir. Barry W. Blaustein, US, 2005, 94 mins
Cast: Johnny Knoxville, Brian Cox, Katherine Heigl
Review by Carol Allen
With the Farrelly brothers in the production seat, Johnny Knoxville as the star, and a story about a guy trying to pass himself off as mentally-challenged in order to win the Special Olympics, you might be forgiven for expecting real bad taste gross out. But this outrageous and rather brave idea is handled instead with a lot of humour and warmth. For a comedy, it also starts out pretty seriously. Steve (Knoxville), while trying to do his janitor a good turn, involves him in an accident incurring heavy medical bills which neither of them can pay. The situation and the laugh factor is saved by Steve's Uncle Gary (Brian Cox), a dissolute, fun old rogue, who gets us chortling and comes up with the Special Olympics plan to get himself and Steve out of the financial mire.
The very idea of term "Special" Olympics puts my teeth on edge. A condescending little pat on the head or what? So for my money it's a valid target for a bit of mickey taking, particularly when the "special" people take over the plot. They very soon suss that Steve is not for real - "I've seen better acting in pornos", says one them - but even so they befriend him and try to help him to win just to bring down the cocky champ, who regards the gold medal as his by right.
Johnny Knoxville is beginning to grow on me. Like Jim Carrey, he’s a good looking bloke when he stops pulling faces and he’s funny and rather endearing in this. There are some good gags, such as Steve doing his homework by watching movies like Rainman and Forrest Gump, some nice funny lines and it does in the main retain a joyful, irreverent political incorrectness without becoming offensive. The actors appear to be a mixture of genuine Special Olympics veterans and professional thespians and to be fair I didn't know which was which, though I was beginning to smell cliché with the way they all referred to themselves all the time by their first names as in "Steve wants another cookie". Katherine Heigl plays the volunteer helper Steve fancies but can't approach because of his "specialness" - all cheerleader looks and over-perfect teeth - but the film manages to get quite a lot of fun out of the situation. Inevitably we have to bring in a bit of moral redemption for Steve at the end - this is America after all - but it's done with a sense of fun rather than sticky sentimentality, so I'm not complaining.
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Fox Home Entertainment have announced the UK Region 2 DVD release of The Ringer for 24th July 2006 priced at £15.99.
Features include:
- Commentary by Director Barry W. Blaustein
- 16 Deleted Scenes
- Let the Games begin: A Look at The Ringer
- A Message from Tim Shriver, Special Olympics Chairman
- Inside Look “The Sentinel – Behind the Scenes”
- Special Olympics Featurette
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