The Ringer is a 2005 comedy starring Johnny Knoxville, Katherine Heigl, and Brian Cox. It is produced by the Farrelly Brothers and was released on December 23, 2005. The story follows Steve (Knoxville), who must raise a large sum of money to pay for a surgery to re-attach his gardener's fingers. His uncle Gary (Cox), who owes thousands in gambling debts, suggests that they fix the Special Olympics 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 developmentally disabled man named Jeffy. Gary, assuming that Steve will easily defeat the legitimate contenders, bets $100,000 that reigning champion Jimmy Washington (Leonard Flowers) will not win the gold medal. The other contestants easily spot this ringer, but they want to see Jimmy dethroned.

South Park and The Ringer

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Fans of the television program South Park have held criticism against the movie, noting heavy similarity between the plot of the film and Eric Cartman's subplot in the episode "Up the Down Steroid." However, The Ringer was originally written and entered pre-production in 1998 and filmed in late 2003, a full 3-6 months before the South Park episode aired. Additionally, screenwriter Ricky Blitt and the Farrelly brothers have accused South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone of plagiarizing The Ringer's story, which the latter duo deny.

Inclusion

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According to a review by Gail Williamson (executive director of the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles), the six friends that Steve makes during his trials at the special olympics, two are actors with Down Syndrome--Edward Barbanell and John Taylor. Additionally, all the other athletes are true Special Olympics athletes. The film was approved by the Special Olympics.

External links

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• Official Site
• The Ringer at Yahoo movies
• The Ringer at Empire Movies
• The Ringer trailers at Apple Trailers
• http://www.popmatters.com/film/reviews/r/ringer-2005.shtml PopMatters review (12/2005)]
• Review by Gail Williamson
• The Ringer at Rotten Tomatoes

Comedy films | 2005 films | Films shot in Super 35 | Fox Searchlight films

The Ringer