The Coach
2014
Original language: Russian
- comedy
The story
Retired mobster tries to get back in business by making friends with the kid of his ex-boss. To do so, he must became PE teacher in kid's school.
What it’s like
Bright, flat, fluorescent-lit school corridors and sun-washed Moscow-area interiors give this Russian sitcom a plain, low-budget sheen, with multi-camera-style framing that keeps the actors centred and the jokes landing in full view. The sound is upbeat pop-rock stings and quick punchline stings over studio laughter, so it plays like a sitcom with its volume on. The mood is brisk, silly and warm, with a light criminal edge that stays cartoonish rather than menacing. Pacing is quick, episodes are short, and the comedy runs on awkward exchanges between a washed-up gangster who is out of his depth in a gym and a teenager who sees straight through him. Its people are gradually forced into each other's worlds and grow fond of each other, which is the emotional thread. Violence is slapstick and offscreen, with a few threatening moments but no gore, no sexual content and no real cruelty, so it suits easy, undemanding comedy. It is for viewers who want a lighthearted, low-stakes sitcom to have on in the background or watch with their family.
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