Since “Dumb and Dumber” and “There’s Something About Mary” are among my favorite comedies, my ears perk up whenever I hear the words, “the Farrelly Brothers.” Though they didn’t write or direct “The Ringer,” they helped get it made. It may not be a grand slam of a comedy hit but there are plenty of laughs and even more reasons to see it.

Johnny Knoxville plays Steve, a guy who gave up on his dreams and works at some non-descript corporate job. He gets into a bit of a financial jam and his sleazy uncle, Gary, who is also in a bit of a pickle, suggests having Steve act like a mentally challenged person and fix the Special Olympics. While that sounds truly awful, the movie stays afloat by having Steve get attached to his new colleagues quickly and by having them figure the ruse out but not care, as they want Steve to beat the multi-gold medal winner, Jimmy, a prima donna Special Olympian.

Knoxville isn’t the best actor in the world, but the man can perform physical comedy well and he is very likable. These traits both come in handy in this film, as a less likable actor may have sunk the film. While Brian Cox’s Uncle Gary steals the show, the performances from the mentally challenged actors and the two or three actors portraying mentally challenged athletes are amazing, particularly Jed Rees as Glen, one of Steve’s new friends and a competitor in the same events.

The one thing I truly enjoyed about the film was that it didn’t pander to the audience and it didn’t infantilize mentally challenged people. They were portrayed as they truly are, human beings with distinct personalities. “The Ringer” is a feel-good movie and a fun way to spend an hour and a half.

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