Just In Time For The Olympics..."The Bronze"

The Bronze (2015)

Rated R

Starring Melissa Rauch, Gary Cole, Thomas Middleditch, Sebastian Stan, Haley Lu Richardson, Cecily Strong,

Directed by Bryan Buckley

The Story:

Hope Annabelle Greggory (Rauch) was the little Olympian that could, fighting through an injury to win Bronze in gymnastics. Years removed, she lives like the Queen of Amherst Ohio, living the life of a celebrity. But now there is a new gymnast in town, Maggie (Richardson) who has the potential to go all the way. It's up to Hope to see that she gets there, but Hope isn't sure she's ready to give up her status as the most talented Olympian in her hometown.

If you saw the trailer, you know that Melissa Rauch is going to spout some of the most vulgar insults you've ever heard in a film about the Olympics. That she can pull it off with a straight face and a crazy delivery is just one of the things that starts to win you over about this film.

Or at least, it won me over.

She co-wrote with her husband, the movie, but she gives plenty of good material to the rest of the cast to equally enjoy in the antics.

Gary Cole gets most of the best parts as her beleaguered father who wants only the best for his little gymnast, and may have been a bit of an enabler over the years.

Sebastian Stan also arrives as the Olympic coach who has a past with Hope and wants to get Maggie's services for the Olympic team.

The gymnastic routines themselves are quite good, and the filmmakers did a nice job of sprinkling in actual former gymnastic stars as commentators which helps lend an additional air of authenticity and fun to the proceedings.

Final Grade: B-