The Ringmaster

Directed by Molly Dworsky and Dave Newberg, The Ringmaster follows fledgling filmmaker Zachary Capp as he sets out to make a documentary about Larry Lang and his apparently unbeatable onion rings – with complications ensuing after it becomes clear that Lang isn’t exactly thrilled about the attention. It’s somewhat interesting material that’s employed to exceedingly hit-and-miss effect by Dworsky and Newberg, as the movie, which runs a palpably overlong 87 minutes, suffers from an ongoing emphasis on interludes and encounters that are hardly as enthralling as the directors have obviously intended. (It’s difficult, for example, to work up much interest in or enthusiasm for a scene that finds several figures marveling at a rainbow.) There’s little doubt, as well, that Lang’s far-from-dynamic personality plays a rather significant role in cementing The Ringmaster‘s downfall, although, to be fair, the second half of the picture is focused more on Capp and his progressively obsessive attempts at finishing the film. The inclusion of a few admittedly decent twists, coupled with a final stretch that’s surprisingly moving, ensures that the whole thing is, at the very least, watchable, and yet it’s ultimately apparent that The Ringmaster would’ve worked much, much better as a briskly-paced short.

** out of ****