it's a hard subject to tackle...

Rating: 6/10 (28 April 2006)

Steve Barker works in a stable office job, though lacks a lot of confidence, wanting to boost his career. When his boss tells Steve to fire Stavi the janitor, he hasn't the heart; giving Stavi a job of moving his lawn. Stavi accidentally cuts his fingers off with the lawnmower, but doesn't have the health care cover to fit the bill, ending in Steve's head. His Uncle also in financial debt with betting, comes to the idea of Steve entering the Special Olmypics. Unwillingly Steve enters and the con is on.
When a film maker tries to tackle a touchy subject such as the Special Olympics, you can either call them brave or stupid. With the Farrelly brothers as producers, the mentality that you are in capable hands shows; as they have tackled touchy subject matter of late; conjoined twins and obesity. Screen Writer Ricky Blitt and Director Barry W. Blaustein tread the area lightly, keeping it safe and P.C. as possible; this is it's major flaw.
The dark humour in The Ringer is touched upon lightly, not sending out the punches it needed. The subversive humour needed to bring it head out more often, as The Ringer lacks a lot of jokes, constantly pulling the same strings; if your going to take this subject on, go for broke. Though Barry W. Blaustein has done a great job, at no point does this feel condescending. The Ringer draws out its message genuinely about the handicapped; 'normal' people placing them in a world of can't and not treating them as equals.
But the ultimate problem is that The Ringer is to predictable. Steve falling for Lynn, one of the volunteers. When Steve's cover is blow his room mates help him to win the competition. The Ringer drowns itself in to much sentimentality. The romance between Steve and Lynn is hammy and not really believable.
Use to acting in stupid manners in Jackass, Johnny Knoxville actual looks uncomfortable, bringing a bland performance. Brian Cox over blows as Uncle Gary. The real stars are the people playing the special performers. They comprise of people with actual disabilities and actors, and they just steal the show every moment they're on.
The Ringer could have been a lot more, but it was hard not to walk away with some guilty laughs.