Sunday, January 08, 2006
THE RINGER
Starring Johnny Knoxville, Brian Cox
When I first heard the premise of THE RINGER it could be said I was not interested. When I learned who starred in it I vowed to ignore it. Then I learned that the people who organize and run the Special Olympics were *promoting* it. Hmmm...
Johnny Knoxville's character "Steve/Jeffy" is goaded by his sleazy uncle (Brian Cox, who steals every scene he's in) to fake being developmentally disabled and win the Special Olympics. The uncle will thus win a bet and give Steve the money to pay for an expensive reconstructive operation for a seriously injured friend. The uncle's motive is that he already owes the bent-nosed-thug bettor a large amount of money and will get his knees broken if he doesn't pay up or win the bet, against which he has pledged his own house.
If this were not a movie largely about the Special Olympians it might have gone straight to video, such is quality of typical MTV humor. Knoxville was the creator and star of "Jackass" the TV show and movie. Enough said. But the redeeming facet of THE RINGER is that it was produced by the Farrelly brothers, who make it a point to use disabled people in their movies. Not being a big fan of most of their previous work, I had been unaware of that fact until now.
While several disabled roles are filled by non-challenged actors, a few key ones showcase the considerable talents of some of the Special Olympians.
Steve/Jeffy's rommate "Billy" is played by Edward Barbanell, a 15-year Special Olympian who is also a Shakespearean actor. John Taylor has also been a Special Olympian, actor, and Congressional witness for Downs Syndrome advocacy. He has appeared opposite Demi Moore in THE SEVENTH SIGN, and has worked as a DJ, using his encyclopedic knowledge of 70's and 80's pop & rock music. Leonard Flowers, a multi-medal winning Special Olympics veteran of 16 years, makes his film debut as "Jimmy", the top Special Olympian whom Steve/Jeffy attempts to beat in order to win the bet.
The plot is ordinary, the jokes are sometimes crude and there is vulgarity and lewd talk, but overall the movie's heart is so much in the right place that I will give THE RINGER my recommendation with the caveat that it is not for younger people or those whose sensibilities might be offended.
When I first heard the premise of THE RINGER it could be said I was not interested. When I learned who starred in it I vowed to ignore it. Then I learned that the people who organize and run the Special Olympics were *promoting* it. Hmmm...
Johnny Knoxville's character "Steve/Jeffy" is goaded by his sleazy uncle (Brian Cox, who steals every scene he's in) to fake being developmentally disabled and win the Special Olympics. The uncle will thus win a bet and give Steve the money to pay for an expensive reconstructive operation for a seriously injured friend. The uncle's motive is that he already owes the bent-nosed-thug bettor a large amount of money and will get his knees broken if he doesn't pay up or win the bet, against which he has pledged his own house.
If this were not a movie largely about the Special Olympians it might have gone straight to video, such is quality of typical MTV humor. Knoxville was the creator and star of "Jackass" the TV show and movie. Enough said. But the redeeming facet of THE RINGER is that it was produced by the Farrelly brothers, who make it a point to use disabled people in their movies. Not being a big fan of most of their previous work, I had been unaware of that fact until now.
While several disabled roles are filled by non-challenged actors, a few key ones showcase the considerable talents of some of the Special Olympians.
Steve/Jeffy's rommate "Billy" is played by Edward Barbanell, a 15-year Special Olympian who is also a Shakespearean actor. John Taylor has also been a Special Olympian, actor, and Congressional witness for Downs Syndrome advocacy. He has appeared opposite Demi Moore in THE SEVENTH SIGN, and has worked as a DJ, using his encyclopedic knowledge of 70's and 80's pop & rock music. Leonard Flowers, a multi-medal winning Special Olympics veteran of 16 years, makes his film debut as "Jimmy", the top Special Olympian whom Steve/Jeffy attempts to beat in order to win the bet.
The plot is ordinary, the jokes are sometimes crude and there is vulgarity and lewd talk, but overall the movie's heart is so much in the right place that I will give THE RINGER my recommendation with the caveat that it is not for younger people or those whose sensibilities might be offended.
