You know that feeling when you sit down for a big, star-studded blockbuster and find yourself obsessed with a side character? That's basically the universal experience of watching Colin Farrell in The Gentlemen. Guy Ritchie’s 2019 flick was packed. We had Matthew McConaughey being all smooth and American, Charlie Hunnam wearing the most expensive cardigans known to man, and Hugh Grant doing a weirdly charming sleazeball accent.
But then there was Coach.
Honestly, Farrell stole the whole damn show in about fifteen minutes of screen time. He wasn't the lead. He wasn't even the secondary antagonist. He was just a guy in a tracksuit who really, really didn't want to be there. And yet, years later, when people talk about the movie or the recent Netflix spin-off, they’re usually asking one thing: "Is Coach coming back?"
The "Gentleman" Who Didn't Want a War
When we talk about Colin Farrell the gentleman, we aren't talking about a guy in a tuxedo sipping martinis. We’re talking about "Coach." He’s a man of principles who runs a boxing gym for "The Toddlers"—a group of young, talented, but incredibly stupid mma fighters.
The beauty of the character is his reluctant morality. He’s not a gangster. Not really. He’s a mentor who gets dragged into the London underworld because his "boys" decided it would be a good idea to rob a secret weed farm and post it on YouTube.
Kids today, right?
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Farrell plays him with this weary, fatherly exasperation. He’s the only person in the film who feels like a real human being instead of a Ritchie caricature. While everyone else is busy monologueing about being lions and dragons, Coach is just trying to pay off a debt so his students don't get murdered. It's a "gentleman’s" code, just not the kind you find in a country club.
That Tracksuit Though
Can we talk about the fashion for a second?
The "Coach" look became an instant meme. Those plaid, check-patterned tracksuits weren't just a costume; they were a statement. It was a specific brand of "chav-chic" that looked both ridiculous and incredibly cool because Farrell carried it with so much gravity.
You’ve probably seen the replicas online. People actually buy them. It’s the ultimate "I’m here to beat you up but I also value comfort" aesthetic.
Why Farrell Outshines the Rest
It's kinda funny how Farrell has transitioned in his career. He started as the "it" boy of the early 2000s, the Hollywood heartthrob. Then he realized he’s actually a phenomenal character actor trapped in a leading man’s body.
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In The Gentlemen, he uses his real Irish accent—specifically a grounded, gritty version of it—that makes his dialogue pop. When he tells a group of thugs in a cafe that they’ve "got their mouthwash muddled up with cat piss," it’s funny because he’s dead serious. He doesn't play it for laughs. He plays it like a man who is genuinely disappointed in the youth of today.
- The Discipline: He demands respect not through fear, but through expertise.
- The Loyalty: He takes the fall for his students.
- The Skills: That scene in the cafe where he dismantles a group of kids without breaking a sweat? Pure cinema.
He’s the "gentleman" of the streets. He has a code of conduct that Charlie Hunnam’s character, Ray, actually respects. That's why their chemistry works so well. They’re both pros. They both hate chaos. They just happen to be on different sides of the law.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Netflix Series
When the The Gentlemen TV series dropped on Netflix, everyone was looking for Farrell. I mean, the show is great—Theo James is fantastic—but there’s a Coach-sized hole in the narrative.
A lot of fans thought the show was a direct sequel. It's not. It's a "spin-off" set in the same world. This means we get the same vibe, the same snappy dialogue, and plenty of tracksuits, but we don't get the original cast.
Is it possible we see Coach in Season 2?
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Rumors are always flying around, but honestly, Farrell is pretty busy being The Penguin these days. However, the DNA of his character is all over the show. The character of Henry Collins or even the boxing elements in the series feel like a direct nod to what Farrell built in the movie.
The Secret Weapon of Guy Ritchie
Ritchie has a habit of finding these "secret weapon" actors. In Snatch, it was Brad Pitt’s Mickey. In The Gentlemen, it was Farrell. These characters work because they provide the heart in a world that is otherwise quite cold and violent.
Coach cares. He cares about his gym. He cares about his reputation. He cares about those idiot kids. That’s why we root for him. He’s a "gentleman" because he takes responsibility for things that aren't even his fault.
Actionable Insights: How to Channel Your Inner Coach
If you’re a fan of the character or just looking to understand why this performance resonated so much, there are a few things you can take away from Farrell's portrayal of a modern "gentleman."
- Own Your Aesthetic: Whether it’s a plaid tracksuit or a three-piece suit, wear it like you mean it. Confidence is 90% of the look.
- Accountability is King: Coach’s entire arc is based on him saying, "My boys messed up, so I will fix it." That’s a rare trait in both movies and real life.
- Speak Less, Say More: Notice how Coach doesn't ramble? He uses short, punchy sentences. He’s direct. It gives him an air of authority that people twice his size don't have.
- Master Your Craft: He’s a boxing coach because he knows boxing inside and out. Being an expert in your field earns you a level of "gentlemanly" respect that money can't buy.
If you haven't watched the movie in a while, go back and skip to the scenes with the gym. It’s a masterclass in character acting. Farrell takes what could have been a one-dimensional thug and turns him into the most likable person on screen.
Next time you’re looking for a lesson in style and grit, just remember: don't muddle your mouthwash with cat piss, and always look out for your team.
Track down the original 2019 film on streaming platforms like Hulu or Amazon Prime to see the performance in full. If you've already seen it, check out the Netflix series to see how the "Gentlemen" universe has expanded, even if Farrell is only there in spirit.