The Ringer (film)

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The Ringer
Directed by Barry W. Blaustein
Produced by Bobby Farrelly
Peter Farrelly
Written by Ricky Blitt
Starring Johnny Knoxville
Katherine Heigl
Brian Cox
Music by Mark Mothersbaugh
Cinematography Mark Irwin
Editing by George Folsey Jr.
Distributed by Fox Searchlight
Release date(s) 23 December 2005
Running time 94 min.
Language English
IMDb profile

The Ringer is a 2005 comedy starring Johnny Knoxville, Katherine Heigl, and Brian Cox with cameos by Terry Funk and Jesse Ventura. It is produced by the Farrelly Brothers and was released on December 23, 2005 by Fox Searchlight.

Contents

[edit] Plot

The story follows Steve (Knoxville), who must raise $28,000 to pay for surgery to re-attach his gardener's fingers. His uncle Gary (Cox), owes $40,000 in gambling debts and suggests that they fix the Special Olympics in San Marcos, Texas in order to solve both of their financial problems. Steve, who competed in track and field in high school as well as being in the drama club, enters the Special Olympics in the guise of a "high functioning developmentally disabled young man" named Jeffy Dahmor. Gary, assuming that Steve will easily defeat the legitimate contenders, bets $100,000 that reigning champion Jimmy Washington will not win the gold medal.

During the competition, "Jeffy" falls for Lynn (Heigl), a volunteer for the Special Olympics. During this time, some of the other contestants determine "Jeffy" to be faking his handicap, but they don't want Jimmy to win either, and they help him try to defeat Jimmy. "Jeffy" does not actually win; his friend Glenn does, with "Jeffy" coming in third behind Jimmy. During the medal ceremony "Jeffy" admits that he's not handicapped, his name is actually Steve Barker, and that he doesn't deserve his medal. He then gives his medal to Thomas, who had come in fourth. Lynn, disgusted with Steve, slaps him and leaves.

6 months later, Steve has quit his job and is working in theatre, helping produce a play with the friends he made during the Special Olympics. Glen and the others trick Lynn into coming to the theatre, and seeing the work that Steve is now doing, she forgives him and kisses him.

[edit] Reception

The movie was met with mixed reviews. Some critics thought that it was too predictable.[1] However, noted critic Roger Ebert gave it a positive review.[2]

[edit] Box office

When it opened The Ringer earned $7,702,439 and its box office total was $35,019,634. It also earned $40,800,000 in DVD sales.

[edit] Trivia

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
  • Some track scenes from the movie were shot on location at Texas State University, and students from the university were hired as extras to sit in the stands between seated mannequins.
  • This follows a similar plot to the South Park episode "Up the Down Steroid" which involved the character Cartman to pretend he's in mentally challenged in the special olympics except he gets poor results.This was later clearly revealed by Matt Stone that it was not a parody of the film and was a coincidence. The South Park episode was released first, however The Ringer was written and filmed before the South Park episode.
  • Leonard Flowers, who plays Jimmy Washington, is handicapped and competes in the real Special Olympics.
  • The band that appears is covering an Andrew W.K. song "(I see) Pretty Girls"

[edit] External links

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