The Ringer
The Ringer ★½ 2005 (PG-13)
Throughout their film careers, the Farrelly Brothers have consistently showcased their un-ironic affection for both toilet humor and the mentally handicapped. However, their attempt to bring the two together in this Johnny Knoxville vehicle (directed by one of their farm-team minions) fails miserably. Steve (Knoxville) is a nice guy who, thanks to money woes, gets talked into posing as a retarded athlete, so his uncle Gary (Cox) can fix the Special Olympics. It sounds like the most “wrong” comedy ever, but the script is completely toothless, vacillating between mocking the handicapped and telling us how awesome they are. Hypocrisy is rarely funny, and this dud is no exception. 94m/C DVD . US Johnny Knoxville, Brian Cox, Katherine Heigl, Geoffrey Arend, Leonard Earl Howze, Jed Rees, John Taylor, Edward Barbanell, Bill Chott, Leonard Flowers; D: Barry W. Blaustein; W: Ricky Blitt; C: Mark Irwin; M: Mark Mothersbaugh.