The Ringer (2005 film): Difference between revisions
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Six 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, as well as Stavi, who got his fingers reattached. Glen and the others trick Lynn into coming to the theater, so Steve starts to apologize. Lynn who was originally shocked at the ruse already forgives him because Stavi told her why Steve pretended to be developmentally disabled. Lynn is relieved, and they kiss. |
Six 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, as well as Stavi, who got his fingers reattached. Glen and the others trick Lynn into coming to the theater, so Steve starts to apologize. Lynn who was originally shocked at the ruse already forgives him because Stavi told her why Steve pretended to be developmentally disabled. Lynn is relieved, and they kiss. |
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my name is jeffy and i like apples |
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== Cast == |
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i really like apples and ketup and ice creem and hugs |
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* [[Johnny Knoxville]] as Steve Barker/ Jeffy Dahmor |
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* [[Brian Cox (actor)|Brian Cox]] as Gary Barker |
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* [[Katherine Heigl]] as Lynn Sheridan |
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* [[Jed Rees]] as Glen |
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* [[Bill Chott]] as Thomas |
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* [[Edward Barbanell]] as Billy |
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* [[Leonard Earl Howze]] as Mark |
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* [[Geoffrey Arend]] as Winston |
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* [[John Taylor (actor)|John Taylor]] as Rudy |
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* [[Luis Avalos]] as Stavi |
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* [[Leonard Flowers]] as Jimmy |
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<!-- Cameos/Cast/Casting --> |
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Professional wrestlers [[Terry Funk]] and [[Jesse Ventura]]'s cameo appearances came about due to their friendship with director Barry Blaustein, who met the pair whilst filming wrestling documentary [[Beyond the Mat]] in the late 1990s. |
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== Production == |
== Production == |
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Revision as of 13:25, 5 December 2011
| The Ringer | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Barry W. Blaustein |
| Written by | Ricky Blitt |
| Produced by | Farrelly brothers |
| Starring | Johnny Knoxville Katherine Heigl Brian Cox Bill Chott |
| Cinematography | Mark Irwin |
| Edited by | George Folsey Jr. |
| Music by | Mark Mothersbaugh |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Fox Searchlight |
Release date | December 23, 2005 |
Running time | 94 minutes |
| Country | Template:FilmUS |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $40,442,437 (worldwide) [1] |
The Ringer is a 2005 developmental 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.
Plot
The story follows Steve Barker (Johnny Knoxville), who hates his job but after over two years of working, receives a promotion. His first duty is to fire his friend Stavi, who is the janitor. Steve fires Stavi, but hires him to work around his apartment. Stavi gets three fingers amputated in a lawn-mower accident, and reveals that he does not have health insurance, Medicare or AFLAC. Steve must raise $28,000 within two weeks to pay for the surgery to re-attach his friend's fingers. 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. 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 young man with learning difficulties 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. Despite initially being disgusted at pretending to be mentally challenged, Steve goes along with it for Stavi.
During the competition, Steve falls in love with Lynn (Katherine Heigl), a volunteer for the Special Olympics. During this time, six of the other contestants see through Steve's ruse. Since they hate the egotistical, arrogant Jimmy, they decide to go along with the ruse and try to help Steve defeat Jimmy. Steve begins to feel guilty for his actions, and tries to confess his sins to a priest, but he is beaten up by him.
Steve does not actually win; his friend Glen does, with Steve coming in third behind Jimmy. During the medal ceremony Steve admits that he is not developmentally disabled, his name is actually Steve Barker, and that he does not deserve his medal. He then gives his medal to Thomas, who had come in fourth. Uncle Gary still ends up winning his bet, since the condition was not that "Jeffy" would win, but that Jimmy would not.
Six 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, as well as Stavi, who got his fingers reattached. Glen and the others trick Lynn into coming to the theater, so Steve starts to apologize. Lynn who was originally shocked at the ruse already forgives him because Stavi told her why Steve pretended to be developmentally disabled. Lynn is relieved, and they kiss.
my name is jeffy and i like apples
i really like apples and ketup and ice creem and hugs
Production
The film took seven years to get made due to its controversial subject.[2] The Special Olympics committee eventually agreed to endorse the film, the film makers having given them final say on the script.[3]
Producer Farrelly is himself a longtime volunteer with Best Buddies, a group that provides mentoring program for people with intellectual disabilities, and has prominently featured disabled characters in his previous films such as Warren the brother of Mary in There’s Something About Mary and Rocket in Stuck on You.[2]
Farrelly explains "You’re not laughing at them. You’re really laughing with them. There are a lot of jokes in this movie, and they’re in on them all."
Reception
The film was met with mixed reviews. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a score of 40% based on 84 reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 10. The general consensus is that the film was too predictable.[4]
Roger Ebert gives the film 3 out of 4 stars, stating: "The movie surprised me. It treats its disabled characters with affection and respect...and it's actually kind of sweet..."[5]
References
- ^ "The Ringer (2005)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
- ^ a b "The Special Olympics approve of 'The Ringer'". The Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20051224061140/http://www.specialolympics.org/Special+Olympics+Public+Website/English/Press_Room/Global_news/The+Ringer+opens+23+December.htm
- ^ "The Ringer (2005)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
- ^ Ebert, Roger. "The Ringer (PG-13)." Chicago Sun Times, 22 December 2005.
External links
- The Ringer (Yahoo Movies)
- The Ringer (Empire Movies)
- Fuchs, Cynthia (December 2005). "The Ringer". Pop Matters.
- Williamson, Gail (December 2005). "The Ringer" (Microsoft Word Document). dsat.ca.