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"The Ringer" Attains Special Olympics Approval

FRIDAY DECEMBER 23 2005 11:00 PM

Submitted by Tangus. Edited By Christopher.

In the new Farrelly Brothers movie, "The Ringer", Johnny Knoxville fakes being a mentally retarded man named Jeffy to enter the Special Olympics and win a bet. Of course, most people have thought that the movie would be a cheap laugh on behalf of the mentally retarded actors in the movie and the Special Olympics.

According to the Special Olympics though, that is not the case. In fact, they are encouraging people to see it when it comes out today.

Mark your calendars for 23 December and join in the fun by taking some time out to visit your local theater and see The Ringer.

On 23 December 2005, The Ringer, a film starring Johnny Knoxville, opens in theaters across the United States and Canada. The latest fearless comedy from producers the Farrelly Brothers (There�s Something About Mary, Dumb & Dumber, Shallow Hal) asks the question: Can a comedy be off-the-wall, irreverently indelicate and yet ... inspirational? The Ringer spikes the uproarious with the uplifting in a story about an ordinary man who discovers what it truly means to be �special� when he attempts to �fix� the Special Olympics.

The Ringer also tells the Special Olympics story in a new way, challenging destructive stereotypes and negative thinking � especially prevalent among young people � about people with intellectual disabilities. Says Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver: "Beyond improving the lives of our athletes on the playing field, a key goal of Special Olympics is to change attitudes of nondisabled young people about people with intellectual disabilities, dispelling negative stereotypes. Humor can be a very effective way to reach young people and the Farrellys are masters of both."

Special Olympics Florida athlete and actor Eddie Barbanell, who portrays Billy in The Ringer, says, �This movie does not mock people with intellectual disabilities. When you see this movie, laugh with us, not at us. See us as human beings and people just like you and watch us showcase our talents.�

33 Comments

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unfound

Norfolk, VA

July 2004

DEC 23, 2005 11:10 PM

my cousin insisted we see this movie tonight... so my cousin, by brother, my aunt and myself attended a 7:40 p.m. showing...

and it was fucking God awful... i laughed once...

however, on topic.. there were no cheap-shots taken at the mentally challenged, and those situations were handled with class...

but i think the filmakers had fears that they may insult someone, and in the process of handling P. C.-ness they forgot to write a tolerable movie.

mamet

Charleston, SC

March 2005

DEC 23, 2005 11:17 PM

Wasn't that the premise of a South Park episode a few years ago?

That's interesting. I was a bit enraged when I saw the trailer, but I'm glad to see that they don't go for laughs at the expense of the disabled. I'm still not seeing it though, despite Katherine Heigl's casting.

[Edited on Dec 24, 2005 by mamet]

Subrosa

San Francisco, CA

July 2004

DEC 24, 2005 12:12 AM

mamet said:
Wasn't that the premise of a South Park episode a few years ago?

That's interesting. I was a bit enraged when I saw the trailer, but I'm glad to see that they don't go for laughs at the expense of the disabled. I'm still not seeing it though, despite Katherine Heigl's casting.

[Edited on Dec 24, 2005 by mamet]

My thoughts... exactly.

I saw the first trailer for it and was disgusted. I'm happy to hear that the movie doesn't take cheap shots, but I'm still not seeing it. Because that would require me to pay money to see Johnny Knoxville do something, and that is something I just won't do. Like rooting for the Dodgers or eating avocados... it's just not going to happen. Ever.

Jayce

Minneapolis, MN

November 2002

DEC 24, 2005 01:02 AM

Subrosa said:

There was an article around a while back saying that the movie idea was pitched to the South Park Camp in like 2000 or something. Never went anywhere and here it is today. But really, the idea isn't that original. Similar thing happened in the Paralympics where some athletes pretended to be disabled.

Edit: Here is one link but not sure it was what I was originally thinking of.
Paralymics Fraud

[Edited on Dec 24, 2005 3:07AM]