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Johnny Knoxville, Brian Cox, Katherine Heigl, Jed Rees, Bill Chott ... see more see more... , Edward Barnabell , Leonard Earl Howze , Geoffrey Arend , John Taylor , Luis Avalos , Leonard Flowers , Zen Gesner , Steve Levy , Terry Funk , Brad Leland , John Rothman , Jesse Ventura , Richard Dillard , Steven Chester Prince , Mike Cerrone , Sean Gildea , Cassandra L. Small , Kara Rastrelli , Edward Barbanell , Al "Train" Dias , Janna Ambort , Mohammad M. Ahmed , Nicole Bradley , Lauren-Elaine Edleson , Ruth N. Straw , Hugo Perez , Diana Heart , J.D. Stahr , Heidi B. Bush , Troy Jackson , Bryan Dilbeck , Carlos Sierra , Michael Clossin , Meagan Elise Flynn , Rosie Shriver , Shane Mallory , Sara Peterman , Bo Kane , W. Earl Brown

A guy trying to do the right thing ends up taking part in one of the most morally dubious con games in history in this comedy. Steve Barker (Johnny Knoxville) is an office drone who wants to move up t... read more read more...he corporate ladder, but when he asks his boss for a promotion, it comes with a condition -- Steve has to fire Stavi (Luis Avalos), who has been the firm's janitor for years. Steve decides to soften the blow by hiring Stavi to do his lawn and garden work. However, an accident robs Stavi of several of his fingers, and since he doesn't have medical insurance, Steve needs to find a way to pay for his surgery. Steve's uncle Gary (Brian Cox), a sleazy type who will bet on anything, also needs some fast cash, and comes up with a get-rich-quick scheme -- Steve was a track star in high school, and with the Special Olympics Championships coming up, all Steve has to do is pretend to be mentally challenged, enter the competition, and win the running events against six-time medalist Jimmy (Leonard Flowers). Gary will bet big on Steve, and the odds will allow them to clean up. Steve is appalled by the idea, but he needs the money badly enough to go along. However, Steve discovers that Jimmy is fast enough that he has little chance of beating him. However, Jimmy's colossal ego has made him many enemies among his fellow Special Olympians, and they're eager enough to see him taken down a peg that they help Steve train for the big event. Matters become all the more complicated when Steve becomes infatuated with Lynn (Katherine Heigl), a beautiful woman who has volunteered to help the challenged athletes, and would doubtless be furious if she found out what Steve was really doing. Produced by Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly, The Ringer was the first fiction directorial credit for Barry W. Blaustein; the story also parallels a 2004 episode of the animated television series South Park, "Up the Down Steroid." ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

72% liked it

379,866 ratings

Critics

40% liked it

85 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 34 min.

Directed by: Barry Blaustein, Barry W. Blaustein

Release Date: December 23, 2005

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DVD Release Date: May 16, 2006

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Stats: 19,038 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (19,038)

  • CloudStrife84
    September 8, 2011
    CloudStrife84
    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 ... read more(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 Rain Man and Forrest Gump, 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.
  • murphmann93
    June 23, 2011
    murphmann93
    Absolutely hilarious. Love Johnny Knoxville, he's a legend!
  • DreamExtractor
    April 29, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    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 ... read morestill has many problems.
  • LoughnerWasLucid
    March 13, 2011
    LoughnerWasLucid
    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 mea... read moreningless, "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.
  • fb733768972
    February 5, 2010
    fb733768972
    Well worth the wait! The Ringer is one of the funniest movies of 2005!
  • thmtsang
    October 11, 2009
    thmtsang
    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.
  • SirPant
    October 1, 2009
    SirPant
    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... read more 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.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    June 13, 2009
    FiLmCrAzY
    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 ... read morean 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!
  • 76Majikat
    April 5, 2009
    76Majikat
    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.
  • jagfire
    August 26, 2007
    jagfire
    Chick's hot, had some funny moments, but nah.

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Critic Reviews

Stephanie Zacharek
January 6, 2006
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

The Ringer, for all its glaring flaws, pulls the rug out from under us. Full Review

Richard Roeper
January 4, 2006
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

It's just so predictable. Full Review

Akiva Gottlieb
December 28, 2005
Akiva Gottlieb, Village Voice

An uncomfortable intermingling of message movie and gross-out comedy, a sporadically funny vehicle that indicts its audience for laughing. Come on, guys. You can't have your fun and eat it too. Full Review

Linda Barnard
December 27, 2005
Linda Barnard, Toronto Star

The worthwhile bits are few and far between. In the rush to avoid exploiting the athletes, the filmmakers have stuck it to the audience instead. Not funny. Full Review

Peter Hartlaub
December 27, 2005
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle

As in the best Special Olympics events, everyone finds a way to win. Full Review

Lisa Rose
December 27, 2005
Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger

The movie is ultimately unclassifiable. It can't be dismissed as a cheap gimmick, nor can it be embraced as an earnest tribute. Full Review

Kyle Smith
December 27, 2005
Kyle Smith, New York Post

You could make a very funny comedy about a guy who pretends to be retarded so he can win the Special Olympics, but The Ringer isn't it.

Kevin Crust
December 27, 2005
Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times

Though the movie bears some of the Farrellys' trademark outrageous humor, it has a sweet demeanor and makes a noble statement. Full Review

Elizabeth Weitzman
December 27, 2005
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

No one will accuse The Ringer of being tasteful, but when you're not laughing, you may find yourself genuinely touched. Full Review

Robert Denerstein
December 27, 2005
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

If The Ringer doesn't strike comedy gold, it at least manages to score enough points to bring home the bronze.

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  • The guy is talking on the phone wearing a 'un-missable' glaring red tie when he gets up to walk to his Boss's room... in a yellow tie! A moment later, he is sitting in the Boss's room wearing the red tie. All this, within a minute of the film opening.
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The Ringer Trivia

  • What movie did Johnny Knoxville star in where he pretends to be a participant in the Special Olympics?  Answer »
  • What movie is this from: "When The Fuck Did We Get Ice Cream?!"  Answer »
  • From what movie is the fowling qote from? "Sould I ware my shirt up or down or up or posibily tucked it?"  Answer »
  • in which film does the quote 'hi im jeffy'come from?  Answer »
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