Stick Season One: A New Charming Sports Comedy Emerges

Stick is a sports comedy series created by Jason Keller and starring Owen Wilson, who also serves as an executive producer. The story centers around Pryce Cahill (Wilson), an over the hill, ex pro golfer whose career was permanently derailed 20 years ago following a disastrous performance in a tournament where he was involved in an incident involving another golfer. After the collapse of his marriage and while working at an Indiana sporting goods store, Pryce hedges his bets and puts his entire future on the line after he discovers Santi Wheeler (Peter Dager), a 17-year-old golf phenom who shows instant talent and potential. After convincing Santi’s mother Elena (Mariana Treviño) and his former caddy Mitts (Marc Maron) to hit the road and go on tour with them, the group travels around to different golf tournaments to show Santi’s talents to the world.

On top of being charming and heartfelt, Stick is also very funny, making for a series that is hard to dislike and one that will easily appeal to just about anyone. Regardless if one is a golfer or not, or one that has no interest in the sport (although this will teach viewers a thing or two), it is undoubtedly a lot of fun to watch thanks to likeable characters, fun dynamic, and a never better Owen Wilson leading it all. While the golfing sequences aren’t the central focus, they are still entertaining to watch, and filmed in an unexpectedly compelling way. Think Happy Gilmore but a little more updated, and flashy in the way these sequences are presented onscreen. Like all the best sports shows and films, the series puts more focus on its characters than the sports they are centered on and is all the better for it as they are the highlight. From Pryce to Santi, Elena, Mitts, and Lilli Kay as Zero, its leads are well fleshed out and likeable in spite of their flaws. Though very different from one another, it is those differences that bring them together, creating that strong dynamic. A dynamic that only gets better with each passing episode, the chemistry of the cast across the board help bring it to life.

Wilson was pretty much tailor made for Pryce, delivering one of his best performances in recent memory. He can play a glass half full/down on his luck guy in his sleep and nails all the comedic beats required, while showing some dramatic chops as the series goes on, diving into Pryce’s pain without going overboard. Meanwhile, Dager is a real find and a standout as Santi, proving that he is going to have a lengthy career in Hollywood if this his work here is any indication of his talents. Rounding out the cast, Treviño is a highlight as Elena as Maron steals the show, delivering a ton of big laughs, and loads of insight. On the supporting side, Judy Greer and Timothy Olyphant appear in recurring roles, as Amber-Linn and Clark Ross, both leaving an impact in their limited screen time and viewers wanting more. Should the series be renewed for another season, it could mean that viewers could get more as their characters could be further expanded upon.

That being said, the series was not without some issues that hold it back from being the next great sports series or one worthy of reaching the heights of Apple TV Plus’ other big sports comedy series, Ted Lasso. Kay is a tremendous actress and one that does well as Zero, however, the character is conceived in such a frustrating way that she doesn’t fully fit alongside the rest of the cast. Initially a very frustrating character, and essentially nothing more than a rebellious love interest for Santi, as the season progressed, she receives more development that would ultimately improve the character. But for the first few episodes, may viewers will find themselves wonder about her inclusion to the series to begin with. As enjoyable of a series as this is, it is very familiar in nature in terms of story and structure. Though in spite of those flaws, the series makes up for that in its charming execution and winning cast.

At the end of the day, while Stick is a series that is unlikely to change the game, it is an easy one to recommend as it is hard to imagine viewers not enjoying it due to its universal appeal and themes. The series might play better with older audiences, golfers, or hardcore Owen Wilson fans but it offers a little something for everyone. Here’s to hoping that it performs well enough to warrant a second season, giving viewers another breezy summertime watch with plenty of potential moving forward.

Score: 77/100

*still courtesy of Apple TV+*

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Connor Carey

www.connorsmoviereviews.com/

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