Here’s the gist: a loser pretends to be mentally handicapped in order to fix the Special Olympics and something mildly amusing happens once every half hour. Welcome to another bad taste comedy from the Farrelly brothers, albeit pulling behind-the-scenes strings as producers. Johnny Knoxville is adequate enough, but the listless script requires the sort of talent that only Jim Carrey’s rubber-faced gurning could have provided. We’d have expected more from writer Ricky Blitt, considering he’s the man behind some arse-achingly funny episodes of Family Guy, but then director Barry W Blaustein is also the writer of Police Academy 2, so go figure.
DVD Extras: Extras primarily consist of the expected Special Olympics promo gubbins explaining why they backed the film, and a well-meaning and light-hearted team commentary. Although, as Knoxville’s co-star Brian Cox doesn’t feature, we’re left none the wiser as to why the hell he keeps being drawn to ropey comedies. Super Troopers, anyone?
Audio Commentary, 16 Deleted Scenes, Let The Games Begin: A Look At The Ringer, A Message from Tim Shriver (Special Olympics Chairman), Special Olympics Featurette.
