THE BRONZE is a Vulgar and Raunchy Comedy - Sundance 2015 Review
The Bronze was the first movie that I saw up at Sundance this year, and it was a doozy. Like most of the movies I'll see at the film festival, I have no idea what I'm getting myself into when I sit down to watch these things. It almost always a complete surprise.
I was hoping the first film I saw this year would blow me away, just like Whiplash did for me last year, but that wasn't the case with The Bronze. The movie was directed by Bryan Buckley, and it was good. The film has a handful of really funny moments, but for the most part it's a mediocre movie with an insanely annoying main character named Hope Ann Greggory. She is played by Melissa Rauch (The Big Bang Theory) in the feature, and the actress also co-wrote the script.
The story centers on a former Olympic gymnast who won a bronze medal when she was younger. In the ten years following the win, she has spent her time as the small town hero drinking, snorting sinus medication, stealing, and avoiding any kind of responsibility. The central character kind of mirrored Tonya Harding, but this character was a hell of a lot crazier with a very deep, vulgar edge.
Had they toned back the over-the-top portrayal of this disgustingly vulgar and spoiled brat, it would have been easier to watch. But from the get-go, I hated this character, and even though throughout the film she becomes a better person, I didn't care because of how much of a bitch she was at the beginning. At one point, her own dad, played by Gary Cole, calls her a bitch, and you just want to give the guy a high five for finally not taking her crap anymore.
The movie did have some heart, and it had a redeeming ending, but getting to that point was an absurdly annoying ride. There were a few moments that brought on the laughs, but many of them consisted of weird WTF scenes. One of the craziest parts of the movie was a gymnastic sex scene which was absolutely ridiculous on every level. Whatever you imagine when you hear "gymnastic sex scene," you can take that to a level of "holy shit" absurdity that you might not even be able to comprehend. It was so damn weird! Especially when the body doubles in no way, shape, or form look like the main actors in the film - one of which included Sebastian Stan from Captain America: The Winter Solder. I have to say that it's probably one of the raunchiest sex scenes ever put on film, and I'm not the only person saying that.
This is one of those Sundance films that seems like it would be hard to market to general audiences. So I think that one day you'll be able to catch on VOD and Netflix. I don't think it will get a wide release, though. The question is...do you want to spend your time watching it? If you are into overly annoying characters and crazy gymnastic sex scenes, then go for it! If not, you might want to pass.
Here's the synopsis:
In 2004, Hope Ann Greggory became an American hero after winning the bronze medal for the women's gymnastics team. Today, she's living in her father's basement in her small hometown—washed up, largely forgotten, and embittered. Stuck in her past glory, Hope is forced to reassess her life when a promising young gymnast who idolizes her threatens her local celebrity status. Will she mentor the adoring, hopeful protégé, take her down, or both?