Coach (1978) Reviews

• The great teenage sexploitation comedy that almost was.

  Blueghost2003-04-13

  I like to think of this film as the one that started it all; the great Teenage Sexploitation film. Truth be told that's not true. With all the bikini films made in the 60s Coach merely heralds in the 80's version of the genre (even though it was made in 77/78). The topless scenes are pointless, and the gags are substandard. But there is heart and chemistry between Cathy Lee Crosby and Michael Biehn. And Crosby's character does find a good mesh with the team she's supposed to be coaching. The acting on the part of the team members is fair enough, but the film itself is horribly shot. Technically the film is OK. That is it gets a passing grade. However it's looks like it was shot by film students rejected from USC's program. The lighting is horrible, the cinematography is bland as can be, and all the sound in the film was stuff recorded on the set (no looping or other effects). The only shot worth anything in the film is Cathy Lee Crosby's opening Olympic sequence. If you see that, then you've seen the best part of the movie. I won't give this film a complete thumbs-down, as both leads try to do their best with the material at hand (and make it work after a fashion), and the film does have a kind of raw energy that shows some modicum of talent among the film makers, but it's largely a dissapointment. There's of course the "sex" aspect of it. If you bought or rented the film for that alone then you're in for a huge let down as the sex in the film is romantic (as it should be), and appropiately does not placate to the baser aspects of the genre. Back then, as a preadolescent boy with raging hormones, I admittedly found it a cheap thrill. But as an adult I can appreciate the scenes for what they are; tender moments between the characters. A reshoot would be an interesting undertaking. With a reworked script to subtract the T&A and revamp the "comedy" the story could be properly told, and enjoyed. As it is now it's worth a night's rental, but not much else.

• Meet the new coach: sex offender and cheat.

  BA_Harrison2013-01-20

  Desperate to improve the performance of their boys basketball team, Granger High School hires two time Olympic medallist Randy Rawlings as coach without checking the gender of their new employee. When the school's sexist principal Fenton Granger (Keenan Wynn) discovers that he has unwittingly hired a woman (Cathy Lee Crosby), he is keen to get rid of her, but finds that he is legally bound to let her have the job—at least until she messes up, something that he tries to ensure will happen sooner rather than later. An attractive 'fish out of water' teacher slowly earning the respect of both her stuffy peers and her unruly students: not exactly the most original idea for a film, but I still found Coach an interesting watch if only for the fact that Crosby's character acts in a seriously inappropriate and unprofessional manner, first by striking up a sexual relationship one of her underage players (played a young Michael Biehn), and then by throwing all of her sporting principles out of the window by allowing her team to win their final match using underhanded means. And all with zero consequences for the naughty woman!!! A supposedly responsible adult with such dubious moral standards is so unusual in a movie like this that I find it hard not to enjoy just a bit, despite a bland script and lifeless direction doing their utmost to convince me otherwise.

• Drive-in Classic!

  dgordon-12002-08-28

  If you are looking for an academy award winner, this movie is not for you. It's just a fun romp back to the late '70s, when movies like this were geared to the teen/drive-in "party crowd" audience. Cathy Lee Crosby as the "hottie" coach that has an affair with one of her students is what made the movies at the drive-ins stand out from whatever was playing at the indoor theatres & even on TV! The fact that Crown International released this movie is also a testament that you know you're going to be in for something special. If you are a fan of B movies/classic drive-in movies, this one would be a valued addition to your video library.

• A fun film to watch!!!

  james148022000-08-29

  Coach (1978), was a fun film to watch. Cathy Lee Crosby, did well on her performance as a coach. Especially, I even liked the segment when two students hypnotize Ned, to improve on his exams. This film, is not that bad but, forget the critics!!! This was not a bad basketball film, it seemed fun.

• e. .e. cummings to the rescue

  catfish-er2009-06-24

  In this offering, BCI paired COACH with "The Beach Girls" as a "Welcome to the Grindhouse double feature." This film hardly belongs in this category. A losing basketball team, a curmudgeon school administrator (brilliantly played by Keenan Wynn); and, an illicit affair between the coach and a student about sums up this movie. In addition, while the main characters, played by Cathy Lee Crosby and Michael Biehn, work hard to make the film work, the filmmakers really created something of a disappointment with COACH. Cathy Lee Crosby's character works well with the team. First, she shows them who's the boss after her first practice. Then, she brings in outside talent, pro basketball player Sidney Wicks. Finally; and, perhaps fate-fully, she participates in their ribald sing-a-long on the bus. By the way, how many times did Crown International Pictures use that Woody Guthrie "Hey Lolly Lolly" tune anyway? In any case, the acting on the part of the team members is capable as well as their basketball playing. The score is heavy on the easy listening, romance ballads, which makes COACH seem syrupy. The only exception is the funky "Go Stallions GO," which played during the montage of their winning games. The music really served to heighten the intensity of the game play. But in the end, it's "Jabberwocky, Jabberwocky, Jabberwocky" that saves the day. Overall, the movie is pretty light-hearted; and, hard to hate. I give it a 5 out of 10 just for the e. e. cummings reference.