CNS Movie Review: The Ringer

The Ringer

By David DiCerto
Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- On first thought, the Special Olympics hardly seem like appropriate fodder for a comedy, but "The Ringer" (Fox Searchlight) -- outrageous yet surprisingly sweet -- proves otherwise.

Endorsed by Special Olympics chairman Tim Shriver (credited as a producer), the feel-good film centers on insecure office worker Steve Barker (an appealingly sympathetic Johnny Knoxville), whose sought-after promotion requires firing the company's longtime janitor, Stavi (Luis Avalos).

Being a nice guy, Steve hires Stavi to mow his lawn, at an increased salary. Injured while cutting grass, Stavi lands in the hospital with three severed fingers and no insurance.

Desperate for money to pay for Stavi's surgery, former track star Steve reluctantly conspires with his sleazy uncle Gary (Brian Cox) -- mired in gambling debt -- to "fix" the Special Olympics by posing as a mentally challenged athlete and defeating the games' reigning king, Jimmy (Leonard Flowers). With victory assured (or so he believes), Gary bets on long-shot "ringer" Steve to beat the hot-dogging champ.

Steve's conscience is further panged when he falls for a pretty volunteer, Lynn (Katherine Heigl), from whom he must shield his true emotions.

Steve befriends several other athletes -- some played by actors with mental disabilities -- who, wise to his scheme, decide against blowing the whistle, rallying around him instead and helping him train to unseat the cocky Jimmy.

There is never any doubt that Steve will do the right thing in the end, and become a better person in the process.

Produced by the Catholic-raised Farrelly brothers -- no strangers to pushing the envelope of off-limits humor -- the film bears their signature blend of bawdiness and sentiment. (As to the former, there is scattered locker-room banter -- ostensibly to illustrate that the athletes are just "regular" guys -- and a slightly impious joke involving a Catholic priest.)

Though some may feel the film's audacious premise is in bad taste, "The Ringer" does not demean people with disabilities. Rather, it uses satire to subvert societal stigmas and stereotypes by showing the athletes as fully productive individuals. (You find yourself laughing with, not at, the characters.)

There is one scene some may feel reinforces the stereotypes the film purports to dispel -- a scene in which Steve tries on various outfits to better "look" the part. But taken within the context of the story, it shows Steve's maturation as he moves past his earlier preconceptions.

The film itself is unevenly entertaining, with director Barry W. Blaustein walking a fine line between indelicate and uplifting -- though never exploitative or mean-spirited. But ultimately, "The Ringer" looks beyond stereotypes, acknowledging the commonality, dignity and humanity we all share.

The film has considerable off-color humor, an irreverent sight gag, some crude language and an instance of rough language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

- - -

DiCerto is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

END

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250

FIND A MOVIE

   Looking for a
   movie review?
   Click "Movie List"
   button above

   OR

   Enter a keyword
   from the movie
   title in the box
   below and click
   the "Search"
   button.

Classifications
and
ratings?