On paper, the premise for The Ringer seems inordinately politically incorrect and offensive, certainly too controversial for a major studio to pick up. But Fox along with Conundrum Entertainment, the people that brought us Stuck on You, translated the ultimate in bad taste into a credibly comedic motion picture – or at least, that’s how the situation was read prior to release.

Steve (Johnny Knoxville) has complicated his life by being too weak (well, some would say kind) and consequently he has provoked circumstances that have led him to an ultimatum; pay $28,000 in medical bills or prevent Stavi (his friend and new employee) from getting his severed fingers reattached. In an attempt to raise the money Steve impersonates someone with a mental disorder so that he can fix the Special Olympics and win a bet that will be financially beneficial to both him and his deadbeat Uncle (Brian Cox).

This photo was taken off-set.

The incredibly risky nature of the narrative meant that there was very little margin for error when it came to jokes, if formulating insulting quips at school taught us anything, it’s that there’s a fine line between amusement and offence. Unfortunately Ricky Blitt’s screenplay didn’t manage to handle the whole “comedy” situation too well, where it doesn’t go too far and offend it stands back and relies on half-hearted puns that rarely produce a laugh. A shock considering that Blitt has been involved in writing several episodes of hit animation/sitcom Family Guy – which has no end of intelligent witticisms and never shies away from controversy; as a matter of fact Blitt himself wrote the episode “When You Wish Upon A Weinstein” which Fox refused to air due to Anti-Semitic content.

You see one hangs this way and the other..

Despite it’s less than effective comedy scheme, The Ringer manages to remain likeable purely because of the on screen camaraderie of the cast. The group of established special Olympians that befriend Steve provide a rather feel-good atmosphere with their optimistic performances and the ever prolific and enigmatic Brian Cox naturally complements Knoxville’s surprisingly pleasing performance. With a better script and perhaps a more experienced director behind them, they could have pulled off something genuinely worth watching.

But the on-screen chemistry is certainly not enough to save the film from its inevitable place in the bargain bin. Barry Blaustein certainly still seems to be on the learning curve as he takes a step back with this film, which is only his second insofar. Beyond the Mat, his first feature-length, was a brilliant spoof of one of America’s most loved sports and the fact that he actually wrote and produced the project himself meant that he had complete comedic control over it. Here, his collaboration with Blitt, has not been so successful.

The Ringer is another decidedly average Hollywood comedy that doesn’t deliver the laughs that its trailers promised; instead it manages to only provoke a few stifled sniggers. The focus of the film ends up shifting towards Knoxville’s love interest which subsequently steers its chosen genre dangerously close to that of the conventional Rom-Com, leaving everyone that came in search of genuine and original laughs, annoyed and bored. It could have been so much better, but the lazily content vibe that the film emits, lulls you into a false sense of security and forces you to continue watching. Oh and before you ask, no, Ben Stiller wasn’t in it.

4.5/10