A Single Article

Crossing the Line

Johnny Knoxville is starring in a new movie called “The Ringer.” You may know him from putting the Jackass in “Jackass,” or from that movie that was a disgrace to the Dukes of Hazzard.

Not about to stop while he’s ahead, it seems his new movie is the kind you would expect from him. The premise is that he pretends to be mentally challenged to rig the special olympics. It reminds me of grade school. When we didn’t know any better, it was fun to pretend to be mentally challenged, and it usually made other kids laugh. Still, we all grew up, and we learned that this was not acceptable, and rather very crude. Unfortunately, Johnny Knoxville is an exception.

I’m trying to think of a way to justify this movie. At least two of the main actors are Special Olympics athletes. The movie portrays the Special Olympics respectfully and probably does a good job of proving that people with disabilities are not inferior. Still, this is Johnny Knoxville. There’s something in the story about him falling in love with an event organizer, and their relationship developing even though she still thinks he’s mentally challenged. Obviously the movie will result in everyone finding out the truth and then getting mad, but finally realizing that the whole thing was for the better and giving him a medal or something. How trite. The last thing we need is another movie that affirms a sin like lying. If you ask me the movie should end with Johnny alone, moving to another country because no one wants to talk to him. That might be entertaining.

There’s also a scene where Johnny is confessing to a priest who is telling him that anything can be forgiven. Johnny comes clean and the priest suddenly punches him through the confessional window and then proceeds to beat him up all the way out the door. While I like the idea of a priest taking a hard stance against sin (and Johnny Knoxville getting beat up), I think the scene is another unfunny, shocking piece of work. It would never happen… at least, not from a legitimate priest. That would just be stooping to the level of the sinner. Besides, I find this kind of behavior of a priest portrayed in a movie from Hell-ywood insulting.

My advice to you: don’t see this movie. At least with our wallets we can let Johnny Knoxville know that talent is preferred by movie-goers.