Big Bang Theory star Melissa Rauch is set to star in the upcoming raunchy comedy The Bronze. While we’ve seen her comedic skills on the small screen, this movie-star making moment has a lot of buzz around it, and the trailer has just been released. Check it out. WARNING: It is NOT suitable for work. Like at all.
Bernadette has left the building! This is quite the departure from the squeaky-clean and helium voiced character that Big Bang audiences are used to. And I’m into it.
In The Bronze, Rauch stars as a former Olympian Gymnast who, after snatching a bronze, injures herself and is forced out of the spot-light and into her Dad’s house. With a chip on her shoulder and a scrunchy on her head, Hope Annabelle Greggory is forced to adapt back to small town life, and defend herself against the onslaught of memories, competition, and failure. And they let her coach a teenager. Some questionable parenting from that girl’s family.
Apart from starring as the foul-mouthed Hope, Rauch is also a co-writer of the film, making every taint joke all the more enjoyable, and most likely serves as the reason why her performance is so captivating in the trailer. That, and her spot-on likeness of famed 90’s figure skater Tonya Harding. I can’t help but wonder if that is going to be addressed in the film, perhaps with her plotting someone to hit Haley Lu Richardson’s (Of Ravenswood Fame) Maggie Townsend in the shins. And if there isn’t a "Why Me?" scream ala Nancy Kerrigan coming from Rauch at scene where she injures herself and sets the plot of the film forward, I will be wholeheartedly disappointed. Then again, the character of Hope most likely sees herself as more of a Kerri Strug (without the Gold Medal).
It actually took me a few seconds into the trailer to even realize it was indeed Melissa Rauch- without her Big Bang Theory character’s voice, glasses, and wardrobe she looks like a different person. Even in her past roles, like Hoyt’s unrequited crush Summer in True Blood, she has always had a Bernedette-like quality about her. As the case with many actors, type-casting can be a hurdle, along with the transition from TV to film so I’m hoping that this can be a real star-making moment for Rauch.
Unfortunately, the reviews thus far have been fairly negative. The Bronze had its world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, and has been in stasis for a release date for the past year. Additionally, so far the Rotten Tomatoes score is well, pretty rotten. Granted, there are only a handful of reviewers, but the 13% approval rate isn’t too hopeful. The film does boast an impressive supporting cast including the Winter Soldier himself, Sebastian Stan and Veep’s Gary Cole
Regardless, it is delightful to see the Raunchy side of Rauch. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a movie that delivers as much as the trailer does.
