The Ringer (2005)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Mike S

  
  Johnny Knoxville playing mentally challenged shouldn't be too much of a stretch for him. What with all the braincells he must have lost during his years in Jackass, he's practically in the special olympics already. Anyways, before this becomes too much of a thesis on… More
  Johnny Knoxville playing mentally challenged shouldn't be too much of a stretch for him. What with all the braincells he must have lost during his years in Jackass, he's practically in the special olympics already. Anyways, before this becomes too much of a thesis on Johnny's IQ (or rather to say, lack thereof), let me just mention what I thought of the actual movie. First and foremost, I was surprised in a very positive way in how it deals with the whole concept. Contrary to what you may believe, it doesn't make fun of its special participants, but rather celebrates their great personalities, while giving them a chance to shine on the big screen. Furthermore, it makes a very important statement about how society - out of the worst kind of ignorance - underestimates these individuals and what they're actually capable of. Besides said message, it's also a highly entertaining story with its heart in the right place. I was laughing out loud on more than a few occations - never once feeling the urge to look at the watch. One of my favourite gags is when Johhny (a.k.a. Steve Barker) watch a bunch of movies with his uncle for "research", and between a copy of <I>Rain Man</i> and <i>Forrest Gump</i>, you also see a video marked "Best of Chevy Chase". Now, I don't know about the rest of you, but that sure counts for funny in my book.

• Bethany M

  
  Absolutely hilarious. Love Johnny Knoxville, he's a legend!

• Brad W

  
  A cult classic, but I had problems with ending and Knoxvills character. Johnny Knoxville is a hilarious, so why in this do they try and make him the voice of reason. The plot is hilarious but at the end its cliche and stupid. I like this movie a lot, andbits hilarious, but it still… More
  A cult classic, but I had problems with ending and Knoxvills character. Johnny Knoxville is a hilarious, so why in this do they try and make him the voice of reason. The plot is hilarious but at the end its cliche and stupid. I like this movie a lot, andbits hilarious, but it still has many problems.

• Coxxie M

  
  Credit to "retard #7" for not acting too retardy. he seemed only slightly retarded in the sense that he couldn't pronounce the word "girl" and it was funny to me, watching him try so hard to say it like people do and so i was amused. movie also includes the… More
  Credit to "retard #7" for not acting too retardy. he seemed only slightly retarded in the sense that he couldn't pronounce the word "girl" and it was funny to me, watching him try so hard to say it like people do and so i was amused. movie also includes the incredibly, by-now meaningless, "THATS THE NICEST THING ANYONE HAS EVER SAID TO ME" line. also used in "reality bites", "road trip", and countless other films. a character usually uses this line when the screenwriter decides he wants the two cute actors to kiss. it doesn't matter that the previous line was "hmm, i guess decaf isn't a bad idea." the audience loves the line, "thats the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me" because it reminds them of the simpler times when they also loved people who said nice things to them, and so they drive to Best Buy and pick up a copy for their friend at work too. you know, Janet the receptionist? she just loves romantic comedies.

• KJ P

  
  Well worth the wait! The Ringer is one of the funniest movies of 2005!

• Candy R

  
  I didn't know what to expect from this movie as it focuses on the Special Olympics. Steve sinks to an all time low by pretending to me mentally challenged to enter and win the Special Olympics. It has romance and comedy. It all comes good in the end.

• Anthony L

  
  It's touching moments and slight splashes of humour just about save this, otherwise, awful film. Its defence seems to be that instead of making fun of people with learning difficulties & the handicapped, it?s actually making fun of able bodied people but we all know that… More
  It's touching moments and slight splashes of humour just about save this, otherwise, awful film. Its defence seems to be that instead of making fun of people with learning difficulties & the handicapped, it?s actually making fun of able bodied people but we all know that that's a load of crap. This does make fun of 'retards' and is a low form of humour. Johnny Knoxville is quite likable in it though as are the supporting cast but I'm just not a big fan of this kind of film.

• Film C

  
  HaHa I Loved this movie it was hilarious Johnny Knoxville is brilliant and is a brilliant actor!! i love katherine Heigl as well!! this movie is funny silly and has blossoming romance!! Johnny Knoxville plays Steve Barker who is working in an office and hates it his friend has an… More
  HaHa I Loved this movie it was hilarious Johnny Knoxville is brilliant and is a brilliant actor!! i love katherine Heigl as well!! this movie is funny silly and has blossoming romance!! Johnny Knoxville plays Steve Barker who is working in an office and hates it his friend has an accident and needs money to have 3 fingers sown back on costing 20grand as hes not got health insurence he rings his dad asking but hes in trouble as well oweing gansters 40grand Knoxville then gets persuaded into playing a mentally challenged man! This movie is hilarious and witty and silly and they had fun with it, its a good storyline and beautifully acted worth a wattch!

• Lady D

  
  Admittedly I only caught this one part way through it?s humour was certainly totally un-Pc, but this led to some pretty funny moments.

• Taylor B

  
  Chick's hot, had some funny moments, but nah.

• Dean L

  
  I love this movie. This was one of those films that could have gone horribly wrong. It had some very sensitive subject matter to work with and make comedic. The persons involved in this movie are also very invested in the "cause" and it showed. The movie had heart.… More
  I love this movie. This was one of those films that could have gone horribly wrong. It had some very sensitive subject matter to work with and make comedic. The persons involved in this movie are also very invested in the "cause" and it showed. The movie had heart. Knoxville was fun to watch. All of our protagonists were superb. I could watch this again...maybe even a few more times.

• Luke B

  
  I really liked this. One because I love laughing at those different to me, it's funny. Second because the film was produced with a lot of heart. I often find people avoiding the subject of people's disabilities more insulting than admitting they exist. The Ringer… More
  I really liked this. One because I love laughing at those different to me, it's funny. Second because the film was produced with a lot of heart. I often find people avoiding the subject of people's disabilities more insulting than admitting they exist. The Ringer doesn't show that we should pity or humour anyone labeled 'retarded' or 'mentally challenged'. Knoxville is great in the lead role and Brian Cox is a bit underused but has the same comic brilliance he had in Super Troopers.

• Rachel F

  
  I thought this movie was so cute and really funny. I love Johnny Knoxville.

• Drew S

  
  So it's not a very good movie - better than I expected, but still pretty low-rung comedy - however, it wins major points in my book because it's a surprisingly respectful and steady-handed depiction of the mentally retarded. I work in special education, and just because… More
  So it's not a very good movie - better than I expected, but still pretty low-rung comedy - however, it wins major points in my book because it's a surprisingly respectful and steady-handed depiction of the mentally retarded. I work in special education, and just because someone is learning-disabled doesn't mean they're a drooling, moaning idiot. For The Ringer to accurately portray that is very reassuring. Hell, even the Special Olympics endorses the film. I dunno, it's just not a very funny movie. Granted, I didn't see the last 15 or 20 minutes, but even though it's relatively competent, there's little to laugh at.

• Lanning :

  
  I guess I knew that Knoxville would consider no topic off-limits when it came to getting a laugh and making a buck. And Cox's participation in this project is no surprise; it's a testament to his overall ability. I don't think I've ever confused him with an… More
  I guess I knew that Knoxville would consider no topic off-limits when it came to getting a laugh and making a buck. And Cox's participation in this project is no surprise; it's a testament to his overall ability. I don't think I've ever confused him with an actor, and certainly not one with any kind of finer principles. But Katherine Heigl? Why?

• Bradley W

  
  A cult classic, but I had problems with ending and Knoxvills character. Johnny Knoxville is a hilarious, so why in this do they try and make him the voice of reason. The plot is hilarious but at the end its cliche and stupid. I like this movie a lot, andbits hilarious, but it still… More
  A cult classic, but I had problems with ending and Knoxvills character. Johnny Knoxville is a hilarious, so why in this do they try and make him the voice of reason. The plot is hilarious but at the end its cliche and stupid. I like this movie a lot, andbits hilarious, but it still has many problems.

• Dillon L

  
  An offensive, unfunny, waste of time.

• Steven V

  
  <i>"People tell us all the time what we wont ever do. Won't ever read, won't ever have a job, won't ever learn to tie my own shoes, won't ever have a girlfriend. Well I have done all those things."</i> - <i>Glen</i><br>… More
  <i>"People tell us all the time what we wont ever do. Won't ever read, won't ever have a job, won't ever learn to tie my own shoes, won't ever have a girlfriend. Well I have done all those things."</i> - <i>Glen</i><br> <br> This movie is probably one of the most poorly marketed and underrated movies ever. The movie from its marketing makes you feel ashamed to even want to see it because it looks like it's about making fun of people who are "special". The movie doesn't give off that vibe at all. In fact, it makes you actually view the mentally challenged as normal people. The movie is never mean when it comes to dealing with that topic in fact it's almost uplifting and inspirational. <b>The Ringer</b> is one of these movies that received mediocre reviews. <i>Roger Ebert</i> of all critics actually admitted to liking this movie which means the movie has to be pretty darn good because he's a very harsh critic. While it does contain some of <u>Hollywood</u>'s most typical scenes, the movie has a ton of heart, a decent amount of laughs, and overall good performances especially for a comedy. This is one of those hidden surprises that we rarely get from <u>Hollywood</u>. The acting all around is really good. <i>Johnny Knoxville</i> plays his character <i>Jeffy</i> perfectly. <i>Katherine Heigl</i> plays <i>Lynn Sheridan</i> the adorable counselor in charge of watching over the special athletes and her and <i>Johnny Knoxville</i> both have nice on screen chemistry. The best characters though are the mentally challenged athletes themselves especially <i>Glen</i> (<i>Jed Rees</i>) and <i>Thomas</i> (<i>Bill Chott</i>). Everyone did a fine job in making the movie's performances funny and believable. Director <i>Barry W. Blaustein</i> did a good job capturing the heart felt moments and comedy. <b>The Ringer</b> is a very enjoyable and unique comedy, one that makes you laugh with the characters and not at them. The writer and director as well as everyone involved make you look and think of mentally challenged people as normal people.

• Naughtia N

  
  This movie was fun to watch. Johnny Knoxville is hilarious and there were a lot of funny scenes. I don't know what it is about Johnny, but he can look pretty (sorry for the use of words) retarded at times. This is a story about a man who sinks very low in his life and finds… More
  This movie was fun to watch. Johnny Knoxville is hilarious and there were a lot of funny scenes. I don't know what it is about Johnny, but he can look pretty (sorry for the use of words) retarded at times. This is a story about a man who sinks very low in his life and finds himself in economical difficulties. To get out of these difficulties he plans to rig the special olympics by entering the competition himself. He then discovers that he needs more training in order to beat his competitors. I usually don't think very highly of Knoxville movies but this one was indeed very watchable.

• Andrew F

  
  I wanted SO much to hate this movie. I thought it would be completely terrible and very offensive. BUT... it wasn't. Johnny Knoxville actually does a good job in his role. Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy) is perfect. And none of it was offensive. All of the Special… More
  I wanted SO much to hate this movie. I thought it would be completely terrible and very offensive. BUT... it wasn't. Johnny Knoxville actually does a good job in his role. Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy) is perfect. And none of it was offensive. All of the Special Oympic athletes are great. The humor doesn't come from how "stupid" the Oylmpians are, but how stupid "Jeffy" is. The ending is really good. This movie was a nice surprise.

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