The Ringer (2005)

A young guy's only option to erase a really bad debt is to rig the Special Olympics by posing as a contestant.

Director:

Barry W. Blaustein

Writer:

Ricky Blitt

Stars:

Johnny Knoxville, Brian Cox, Katherine Heigl

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Johnny Knoxville	...	Steve Barker
Brian Cox	...	Gary Barker
Katherine Heigl	...	Lynn Sheridan
Jed Rees	...	Glen
Bill Chott	...	Thomas
Edward Barbanell	...	Billy
Leonard Earl Howze	...	Mark
Geoffrey Arend	...	Winston
John Taylor	...	Rudy
Luis Avalos	...	Stavi
Leonard Flowers	...	Jimmy
Zen Gesner	...	David Patrick
Steve Levy	...	Steve Levy
Alcides Dias	...	Michael (as Al 'Train' Dias)
Mike Cerrone	...	Paulie

Storyline

This comedy is about two guys who decide to rig the Special Olympics to pay off a debt by having one of them, Steve (Knoxville), pose as a contestant in the games, hoping to dethrone reigning champion, Jimmy. Mentally-challenged high jinks and hilarity surely follow.

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Plot Keywords:

special olympics | olympics | mentally challenged | dance | scheme | 

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Taglines:

Special has been redefined.

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Genres:

Comedy | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language and some drug references

Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 December 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

El farsante

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$423,117 (Australia) (28 April 2006)

Gross:

$319,894 (New Zealand) (19 May 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Conundrum Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It took seven years to get the film made.

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Goofs

After Jeffy and his Uncle Gary have explained his mental condition to Lynn; Lynn and Jeffy walk off carrying his bag. As Jeffy and Lynn walk to the dorms her shirt changes from a special Olympics t-shirt in one scene to talking down the road and suddenly changes to a light blue Adidas shirt

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Quotes

Billy: Oh, Mylanta! You *are* my woman!

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Connections

Features Family Guy: Mr. Griffin Goes to Washington (2001)

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Soundtracks

"Piano Man"
Written by Billy Joel

User Reviews

Worth it, but not for laughs

You walk into the theater thinking you will laugh your butt off, but I came out judging my own moral values strongly(whether the director planned for that or not). The characters in the movie are stressed to breaking points over character strength and ethical moral values. It teaches(and shows) a side we rarely see in today's rude and unethical world(take the plot of this movie for example). I walked out and thought: Are mentally disabled any different than the rest of us? Since everyone is different, how can we call a select few...special? My friend walked out of the movie saying: One of the best comedies I've ever seen. Now, me, I'm trying to pretend I liked it for laughs, but I didn't. I sit here typing away my thoughts this movie made me think. I sit here thinking of the people I've hurt, the friends I've lost, and realize that there are just not enough good people in the world. This movie, whether you think it or not, has given me a whole new outlooks towards the disabled, a new outlook on virtues and a new outlook on my own character. I am very amazed of how I walked out of the theater and frankly I'm proud of myself. I hope that this movie helps you reflect yourself.