Movies. Surprisingly Excellent - Surpassed Expectations. Steve will pose as a Special Olympian, run rings around the other athletes, and Uncle Gary will bet a lot of money on him. treated as an integral part of a big picture like this. The Special Olympics committee eventually agreed to endorse the film, the film makers having given them final say on the script. Then there's a long silence while Flowers tries to collect his thoughts and push them past his lips in a coherent manner--usually to no avail, the words coming out in bits and pieces amounting to nothing more than bits and pieces. Farrelly, along with writer Ricky Blitt and director Barry Blaustein, went to the Special Olympics World Games in Alaska. When we were trying out co-hosts on the TV show, they called me and pitched Rocket for the job. They have been involved in every aspect of this movie, from script development to final product. "Since 'The Ringer' came out, people stop me now and they want Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. "I drive a car, I have a girlfriend, I have a job," he says between rolls of film. and 2) how did this movie ever get made? You find out the man youve grown to have feelings for is not actually retarded; hes just Johnny Knoxville. athletes, only to overcome odds, help a friend get his fingers back, and open himself up to vulnerability and attacks. What happens is that the hero, Steve Barker (Knoxville), listens to one self-help tape too many: Hey, you! Stiller? It shows the behind the scenes of the Special Olympics and the people that help. You inspire my daughter. You may do a lot more harm than good "I did not allow my son to see 'Forrest Gump' or 'I Am Sam' specifically because he will view these types of films from an entirely different perspective. Playing Leonard Flowers? As the mom of a real Special Olympian, it is great to see S.O. It was a truly sweet, laugh out loud funny feel-good movie with big big heart. He played Billy in The Ringer. Steve gradually gets to know Lynn more, but is dismayed to learn that she is seeing David (Zen Gesner); after Steve discovers that David was cheating behind Lynn's back, she breaks up with him. I want your autograph. Its awkward: Are we supposed to laugh at this? Its a bad movie because it makes fun of retarded people, then tries to tell us that making fun of retarded people is bad. Having a special child is something most people think is a tragedy; we parents of Special Olympians know that in many ways it is a great gift. stt86 1 yr. ago Sean Penn in I am Sam Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. on the "Let's Be Cops," red carpet, Selena Gomez is immortalized in wax and more. Horrible Right? Trending in reviews - amazon.com It helped me to get some issues of my own in perspective and gave my whole family a real feel-good experience. Blaustein knew he'd found his actor. Johnny Knoxville of Jackass fame is the star. Also this is my 480th review which I am very proud of, my passion is films and to be famous so maybe someone important could see my opinions. If I had the chance to I would take it. His uncle Gary (Brian 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. In the popular 2005 sitcom The Farrelly Brothers, Johnny Knoxville played Steve, a man who pretends to have a mental disability to help his evil uncle fix the Special Olympics and pay off his debts. In a mid-credits scene, Steve and his friends dance onstage with the Kids of Widney High as they perform the song "Respect". disabilities," he said. "I'm Ryan O'Neal," Knoxville says, and on cue Flowers mimics Babs' classic uppercut. A widowed father struggles to hold together his family of three teenagers, one of whom is intellectually challenged and enrolled in a state school for "special" children where he finds fulfillment in his love of sports, emulating his older, athletic brother. Don't ever say that word to me again! 2. Despite Once again, then, the infamous Farrelly brothers have squandered an opportunity to do some genuine good. Are any of the actors in the ringer mentally challenged? 5 Things Everyone Should Know About People With Disabilities - Forbes but I will say my 8 1/2 year old grandson, thought it was very funny and the mentally challenged actors he thought were really good. Gary, assuming that Steve will easily defeat the legitimate contenders, bets $100,000 that reigning champion Jimmy Washington (Leonard Flowers) won't win the gold medal. Ringer (TV Series 2011-2012) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. I spoke with a few people after the movie and asked what they thought and 60% of them mentioned that they personally would like to help out at the next Special Olympics. via REUTERS Controversial new "Jeopardy!" host Mike Richards made a series of sexist comments in an old podcast. Jeffy want Lynn be happy.). Steve, who competed in track and field in high school as well as having acted in the drama club, reluctantly enters the Special Olympics in the guise of a high functioning young man with a developmental disability named Jeffy. Excellent performances by Knoxville, Heigl, and especially Jed Rees and Bill Chott for their unforgettable performances as Glen and Thomas (both from Galaxy Quest) . Katherine Heigl. When you first hear the premise of The Ringer starring Knoxville as the title character and Special Olympics champ Flowers as his archrivaltwo questions spring to mind: 1) why didn't I think of trying that? I was tempted, but afraid the audition might come across the wrong way. They look up to you, Eddie.'". So hot, in fact, that Blaustein, who co-wrote the scripts for Coming to America, Boomerang and The Nutty Professor, shelved the idea of asking Eddie Murphy to play Jimmy and drove to San Antonio to meet Flowers. and you can see Jeffy close his eyes and start to laugh, breaking character. Directed by Barry W. Blaustein, it was produced by the Farrelly brothers. Johnnie Knoxville tries to fix the Special Olympics by pretending to be handicapped. The Bell Ringer is a simple and fun comedy that should have been excellent. It seems like the actor is actually retarded, too should we admire the bravery of casting real Special Olympians? I asked. Says Eddie: "That just knocked down that negative stereotype. The movie employed about 150 actors with disabilities. will appear with Knoxville in "Jackass 3-D.". It really pushes boundaries, he said. By the time he'd nabbed two golds and a silver at the 1995 games, an icon had been born. His sleazy uncle Gary (Brian Cox), owes $40,000 in gambling debts and suggests that they fix the Special Olympics in in order to solve both of their financial problems. Knoxville plays a man who goes into debt after causing an accident which injures his gardener. 35692607. Stay on current site or go to US version. I saw it at a special preview. Youll look like Carl freakin Lewis out there, says the uncle. The Farrelly brothers don't actually believe in subtlety. These performers are creating a new template for the artist-as-activist, challenging their industry and their audiences to reconsider what inclusion really means. Come on, a normal guy against a bunch of feebs? They are the executive producers of "The Ringer," which means they came up with the money, and my guess is a lot more than that. TV Shows. Should we feel chastised by the very movie that made us do it in the first place? I have read the comments of others, and it appears to me, the people who were most critical hadn't even seen the film. Hilarious while being entirely calming and at the same time quite awkward. ; In "The Ringer," produced -- but not written or directed -- by Peter and Bobby Farrelly, Johnny Knoxville plays Steve, a perfectly normal, if loserish, guy who pretends to be mentally. By what name was The Ringer (2005) officially released in India in English? In the process the janitor, Stavi, is hurt and must be taken to the hospital. Yet the only laughs in the movie come from the mentally challenged characters, most of whom aren't actually retarded, but are merely regular actors impersonating mentally handicapped . We watched this film with trepidation. mentally challenged 20 reviews. There is a great message behind the film. This Movie Is Great For Special Olympic Athletes! The Ringer. me.". He pretends to be mentally challenged to rig the upcoming Special Olympics and bring home the gold. It's the only movie that was cleared to go from Special Olympics Inc. Ask Flowers if he'd like some apple-smoked bacon and he says, "Yes, thanks very much." I bought it on box office in the face of stiff competition- Date Movie no less - and expected a poor taste, cheap comedy, right up my street. On the surface this movie may seem like a problematic film. Watch it. By having more accurate portrayals in movies and pop culture, the stigma surrounding disability may start to dissolve. The film received mixed reviews, but its positive depiction of mentally disabled characters was received approvingly by multiple commentators. Special Olympics endorsed the movie. He played Billy in "The Ringer." Famous People with Mental Retardation - HRF Released: December 23, 2005 Directed by: Barry W. Blaustein Cast: Brian Cox Jed Rees Johnny Knoxville Katherine Heigl "The Ringer" isn't a bad movie because it makes fun of retarded people. WATCH THIS MOVIE AND ENJOY IT FOR WHAT IT ISa good film, an excellent cast, and the brand of comedy one can only expect from the Farrelly Bros. Have fun and laugh!!! You have reached ESPN's Australian edition. Steve has an Uncle Gary (Brian Cox) who is wanted by the mob regarding a past-due loan, and knows how he and Steve can raise the money they need. "The Ringer" is a comedy about a man who poses as mentally disabled in order to fraudulently enter the Special Olympics. I had very low expectations since it starred Johnny Knoxville who I, until today, only associated with really grotesque behavior on Jackass. But mostly I sat in awe at the films wrong-headedness, at its inability to convey even its very basic message about all people being worthy of respect. Kim Peek. I really didn't expect much from this movie because to be honest, I didn't her about it until a few weeks ago. The film was released on December 23, 2005, by Fox Searchlight Pictures . There was some clever writing (not genius but sharp), Johnny Knoxville had some cracking lines, the accusation directed at the leading ladies boyfriend of 'he poked me in the chest and called me stupid'(sic) was a cracker. You inspire me. I love this movie a lot being a guy with ASD! Johnny Knoxville? The real Special Olympians are not fooled by Jeffy for one second: "You talk different," they tell him. By night he's a bank janitor. "The Ringer" could have been a better movie, but that would have depended more on the screenplay than the cast, which is effective and generates real affection. Steve has an Uncle Gary ( Brian Cox) who is wanted by the mob regarding a past-due loan, and knows how he and Steve can raise the money they need. Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. I am sorry other people did not enjoy it as much as I did. Despite initially being disgusted at pretending to be intellectually disabled, Steve goes along with it for Stavi. Christopher Reeve Actor | Superman Not necessarily. The Special Olympics? "The Ringer" is the story of Steve Barker, who, one day, is sent to fire his friend, the janitor, Stavi. "Welcome Back, Kotter. Johnny Knoxville stars as a guy who needs to raise money fast. "Mentally challenged people are just like you and me," Knoxville says. She writes: "While you may find the story uplifting, it made elude your students' understanding. . But later in the movie, were told in no uncertain terms that mocking the handicapped is wrong. It treats its disabled characters with affection and respect and it's actually kind of sweet. I remember thinking that what I took away was that retarded people are a lot more intelligent than I thought. Reddit - Dive into anything It might have been better if the Farrellys had directed, instead of Barry W. Blaustein. disabled actors (really disabled) - IMDb The tape works him into a lather and he demands a promotion. "Leonard carries the message of all our participants," says SO Texas president and CEO Margaret Larsen. Gary (Brian Cox), Steve's uncle, tells him that he should "rig the Special Olympics" by pretending to be a Special Olympics athlete. a photo or picture of you? The plot centers around a neurotypical young man (Knoxville) who, as part of a scheme to pay off his debts, poses as being developmentally disabled to compete in the Special Olympics. Evan Agostini/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images. During the competition, Steve falls in love with Lynn (Katherine Heigl), a volunteer for the Special Olympics. Don't assume they will get the same thing out of the movie that you do. The Ringer is a 2005 American slapstick sports comedy starring Johnny Knoxville, Katherine Heigl, and Brian Cox with cameos by Terry Funk and Jesse Ventura. He speaks on behalf of SO some 50 times a year, and in 1998 he appeared on a Wheaties box. I knew very little about it, and, certainly was not aware of the Special Olympics endorsement. "Or your job," they said. Most Profitable Items To Sell On Amazon | 2023 Hot Selling Niches, Benefits of NDIS meal delivery services for people with disabilities, The Future is in the Cloud: Why SaaS Platforms are Essential for Digital Marketing Success. When Knoxville's character scratches a CD that belongs to his SO roommate-played by intellectually disabled actor Edward Barbanellthe roomie's lack of coping skills leads to what may be the film's funniest scene.