Opinions will always vary and everyone has one, but objectively, it’s hard to argue the idea that Johnny Knoxville is one of the bravest actors to ever get in front of a camera. Immediately people will think of Jackass, but take a step back and ignore that for a moment. Ever heard of The Ringer? If not, that’s really not hard to believe. The film was a commercial success in comparison to its budget, but it’s not hard to understand why most wouldn’t have heard of it or even why it wouldn’t have been given a large enough marketing plan.
In The Ringer Knoxville plays ‘Steve’, an average working class man who finds himself in trouble when his co-worker accidently severs his fingers.
Knoxville plays ‘Steve’, an average working class man who finds himself in trouble when his co-worker accidently severs his fingers. Needing the cash to reattach his limbs, Knoxville and his Uncle Gary do the unthinkable: They hatch a plan to rig the Special Olympics. Ah yes, the picture is becoming quite clear now. How could something so heartless and offensive be made into a movie? There’s only one way to find out. For reasons of which aren’t difficult to follow, critics (who are traditionally incredibly left wing) slaughtered the film in the press upon release. However, when reading the reviews, their gripes have far less to do with the movie and more to do with why making it was a bad idea and would only serve to hurt people’s feelings.
This is another scenario where critics just miss the mark in every way. Viewers need only watch the movie and ignore the reviews to see why making The Ringer was not only wise, but financially smart and undeniably hilarious. For one thing, the movie begins with the stereotypical stigmatization of mentally challenged individuals. The usual slurs are hurled around at will with the obvious intent to demean or make fun of people with disabilities. Eventually though, the film shows the audience why these things are hurtful and of course, that mentally disabled people are human and in fact, are not as ‘slow’ as pop culture would’ve initially framed them to be. The Ringer actually treats mental disability and those who have it with respect and dignity, showing its characters to be morally pure and also very intelligent despite the stigmas that arise from being mentally handicapped. It also shows Knoxville is as bold as he’s ever been, probably being the only actor with stones big enough to even THINK about doing something like this.
The Ringer is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, as a film or even just as a comedy. It’s also definitely not as bad as pundits would like everyone to believe and it in no way shape or form should be forgotten, or dismissed. It’s a fair comedy with a wonderfully warm conclusion that could soften the heart of even the most hateful individual with a prejudice towards the mentally challenged. The Ringer is bound to make anyone who watches uncomfortable for laughing at it, but the payoff is worth it in the end.
