Hope Gregory (Melissa Rauch, “The Big Bang Theory”) was an Olympic athlete, but when we’re introduced to her in the trailer for “The Bronze,” the gymnast’s glory days are long behind her. It’s been over a decade since she won the bronze medal, but Hope hasn’t managed to do much of note in the intervening years — besides exploit her local celebrity status to get free fast food and make a habit of stealing from her mailman father’s delivery truck.
When her dad suggests that she get a job at the local gym after he cuts off her allowance, Hope screeches, “I’m not a coach. I’m a star! I was on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ — it’s not called ‘Dancing with the Coaches.’”
Between the giant blond bangs, the floppy scrunchies and the stars-and-stripes tracksuits, Hope’s costuming is perfect. But what clinches her pro athlete look is her hilarious sense of entitlement, which she demonstrates throughout the spot for the comedy.
A chance meeting introduces Hope to a promising gymnast in town. Maggie (Haley Lu Richardson, “Ravenswood”) is eager to learn from Hope despite her role model’s verbal lashings and nasty demeanor. Looks like Hope is going to coach after all — but she’s certainly not going to be rattling off inspirational cliches anytime soon.
Co-starring Cecily Strong (“Saturday Night Live”), “The Bronze” opens March 11, 2016. Rauch co-wrote the script.
