Web posted on:
Friday, November 27, 1998 12:42:51 PM

"Ringmaster"

Rated: R (don't bring the kiddies - lots of obscenities and sex) Genre: Comedy/Parody

I RATE IT:

All ratings are out of 5 Jerrys. Plot Originality Laughs Jerry's performance Compared to all films

YOU RATE IT

How many Jerrys do you give it? 5 Jerrys 4 Jerrys 3 Jerrys 2 Jerrys 1 Jerry View Results

THE FINAL WORD:

A compelling cast of characters is marred only by the performance of the ringmaster himself -- Jerry Springer.

MOVIE CLIPS:

Theatrical preview of "Ringmaster" Windows Media: 28k or 56k Clip: "Fight breaks out on stage" Video clip: 1.9Mb QuickTime

BEST LINE:

"I like to think of us as the Judds -- without the talent." -- Connie in reference to her daughter, Angel, and herself.

SPRINGER SHOW IDEAS:

What would be your dream "Jerry Springer Show" topic? E-mail your ideas to: Rickett.Reviews@CNN.com See what others said.

From CNN Interactive Sr. Producer Dave Rickett

(CNN) -- If you're a big fan of Jerry Springer, you'll love "Ringmaster." If you think he exploits his guests for the sake of ratings, this movie could change your mind.

The fictional storyline accompanies two groups of potential punch-throwers on their journey to appear on the "Jerry" show, where they hope to exact revenge and gain compassion before a nationwide audience.

Rather than focussing on the on-stage personas that we might see on an episode of "The Jerry Springer Show," this film centers on the lives of the guests-to-be -- the predicaments they've gotten themselves into and the why behind their problems. This gives them a more human edge. They're no longer crazy 'rednecks' fighting it out on television for our viewing pleasure. They suddenly have feelings, too.

The characters are believably rich, trailer-park humorous and unashamedly reckless. Laugh-out-loud scenes help move this unpredictable plot through character realizations of the harsh reality of their lives.

The biggest downfall of the movie is the ringmaster himself -- Jerry Springer, who plays the role of an understanding talk show host and protector of the poverty-stricken or fringe folks who appear on his show. His lack of acting ability, coupled with a too-close-for-fiction screenplay, make Jerry the wrong guy for this "parody" of "The Jerry Springer Show."

Had they not put up a disclaimer at the end of the film, I might have thought the movie was a documentary. I felt like I was watching a comic who always had to explain the joke to me. It wasn't enough to parody the show, he had to tell me he was parodying his show. If, instead, you took someone like Christopher Guest ("Spinal Tap," "Waiting for Guffman") and allowed him to develop the character a bit further, then you'd have an all-around winner.

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