The Bronze 2016

In the movie, we are introduced to Hope Ann Greggory, portrayed by Melissa Rauch, who finds herself reminiscing about her glory days as an Olympic gymnast. The story opens with her snorting allergy medicine in a room decorated with trophies while watching a grainy VHS tape of her Olympic performance from twelve years ago. During that competition, she suffered a devastating injury, rupturing her Achilles tendon yet still managed to secure a bronze medal. Wearing this medal, Hope engages in a troubling moment of self-indulgence while her father, Stan, played by Gary Cole, interrupts her with news that dinner is ready—this sets the tone for her foul-mouthed, abrasive character, typical of a woman who hasn’t quite moved on from her past.

As she ventures out in her ever-present Team USA jacket, she makes a stop at her father’s mail truck. There, she pilfers cash from birthday cards before heading to Sbarro in the mall food court. Her order becomes a moment of pride as she waves off an employee suggesting she might want a Diet drink, asserting her preference for the full-calorie version. To her surprise, she learns that meals are free for her due to her local celebrity status as “Bronze Medalist Hope Ann Greggory.” The town even boasts a sign bearing her name, showcasing her fame in Amherst, Ohio, further illustrated by her reserved parking spot at her favorite soda shop.

While enjoying a milkshake, she encounters a young aspiring gymnast named Maggie Townsend, portrayed by Haley Lu Richardson, along with her coach, Ben, played by Thomas Middleditch. Maggie idolizes Hope, declaring her a source of inspiration following the death of her father years earlier. In a twist of coincidence, Hope recognizes Ben from her past as “Twitchy,” a boy she bullied, and the chemistry between them grows evident despite their history.

After returning home, her father tells her she must stop stealing from him and suggests coaching gymnastics as a career. Despite brushing off this advice—she’s appearing on “Dancing with the Stars,” after all—Stan proposes cutting her weekly allowance, which infuriates her. This comedic tension peaks as they watch news on the suicide of Hope’s former coach, with Hope responding rather indifferently, revealing a cold disposition towards her past.

When things take a turn, Hope discovers that her deceased coach left her $500,000 in her will, provided she coaches Maggie to the Olympic games. Initially taken aback by the opportunity, she recognizes it as a chance to reclaim her place in the spotlight and eagerly accepts the task. Hope meets with Maggie and her mother, Maggie’s Mom, played by Cecily Strong, to discuss the training, and they both excitedly agree on the arrangement. However, Hope’s coaching style quickly devolves into self-sabotage as she feeds Maggie a diet of junk food and encourages distractions, demonstrating how little she truly values the sport.

In their first practice, she mixes weed with Maggie’s smoothie, resulting in hilariously disastrous consequences that draw the attention of Ben, who is skeptical about Hope’s suitability as a coach. Complicating matters is Lance Tucker, played by Sebastian Stan, a smug former Olympic competitor with a rivalry against Hope, intensifying the pressure as the stakes rise. This rivalry leads to personal conflicts as they have a brief and heated romantic encounter, further complicating her relationship with Ben, who witnesses a compromising moment.

As the narrative unfolds, Hope’s negligence toward Maggie culminates in an emotional clash during a critical performance. Overwhelmed with doubt, Maggie struggles to perform, but Hope ultimately redeems herself by reassuring her about her mother’s presence. The outcome is a heartfelt victory as Maggie triumphs, securing a gold medal and advancing towards the Olympics, while Hope’s fears about losing her celebrity status materialize when the town’s recognition shifts from her to Maggie.

The bittersweet conclusion presents Hope in a reflective state, realizing her role in shaping her protégé’s future. Striving to maintain a connection with gymnastics, she shifts her focus to fostering new talent in town, leading to a new beginning as she commandeers the local gym. With each comedic mishap and poignant emotional moment, Hope reveals a deepened sense of maturity yet remains a flawed character, indicative of reality’s complexities.

Ultimately, the narrative encapsulates themes of redemption, personal growth, and the multifaceted struggle for fame, serving both as a cautionary tale and a comedic reflection of the highs and lows of competitive sports. As the film wraps up, we see the local gym thriving, though the irony remains that none of Hope’s new students rise to the same heights, perhaps mirroring her own battles between ambition and reality.