Owen Wilson Wages a Successful Charm Offensive in Golf Comedy ‘Stick’: TV Review

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The Apple TV+ comedy series “Stick,” which showcases the endearing talents of star and executive producer Owen Wilson, has two main attractions: the quirky allure of golf and the charming persona of Wilson himself. Interestingly, there’s been a surge of Hollywood projects and real-world occurrences that have brought golf, often perceived as a staid, exclusive sport, into the limelight. However, it’s Wilson’s appeal that keeps viewers engaged, softening the show’s rough edges for an uneven yet entertaining journey – much like the characters’ road trip across America. Despite its hesitation to delve deep into emotional themes, “Stick” occasionally leans too heavily on golf promotion at the cost of the main narrative. Nevertheless, Wilson’s charm serves as a strong base, making the overall experience worthwhile.

Originally crafted by Jason Keller, known for “Ford v. Ferrari”, the series titled “Stick” combines elements of “Ted Lasso” and “Eastbound and Down”, but with a predominantly heartwarming tone reminiscent of the former. The protagonist, Pryce Cahill, alias Stick, is an ex-professional golfer who experienced a dramatic fall from grace around two decades prior to the series’ timeline. In his present life, he works as a salesman at a sports store in Fort Wayne, Indiana, but maintains a rundown lifestyle, driving a battered sports car and treating a luxury home like a bachelor pad instead of letting his ex-wife Amber-Linn (Judy Greer) sell it. It isn’t until he spots local teenage prodigy Santiago “Santi” Wheeler (Peter Dager) at the driving range that Pryce snaps out of his lethargy and devises a plan to help both himself and Santi ascend to the professional ranks.

The term ‘Stick’ oversimplifies the profound connection between Pryce and Amber-Linn. In their past, they both tragically lost a young son to cancer, an event that led to Pryce’s on-course collapse and the end of his career. Interestingly, Santi, whom Pryce initially encounters as a troublemaker on the golf course, is revealed to be a former prodigy coached by his own wayward father. Despite the cliche of the trauma plot or the blatant similarity in their backstories, it seems like a surrogate child-surrogate parent dynamic is unfolding.

Without question, Wilson embodies the puppy-like excitement and tinge of melancholy that characterizes Pryce so captivatingly, regardless of whether or not such a straight-forward backstory is present. For those of us who grew up in the 2000s, Wilson’s crooked nose, sun-kissed blonde hair, and raspy voice carry a nostalgic sheen that makes him an ideal fit for playing an aging icon, even though he hasn’t been out of the spotlight quite as long as Pryce has. (He was excellent in “Loki”!) And whether it’s Pryce musing poetically about the splendor of green hills or instructing Santi on how to relax by humming Simon and Garfunkel, he comes across as someone who effortlessly earns a second chance from everyone around him.

In this series, “Stick” assembles a team that serves as both crew and support system for Santi and Pryce. Marc Maron’s character, Mitts, who was previously Pryce’s caddy and now drives their RV, is cranky, skeptical, and doesn’t hesitate to call out his friend on nonsense – essentially embodying a typical Marc Maron role. Santi’s mother Elena (Mariana Treviño) is both overly protective of her son and independently ambitious in her own right, while clubhouse server Zero (Lilli Kay) becomes part of the group as someone who can understand Santi due to their shared generation. However, the show sometimes overlooks these supporting characters: Elena negotiates a large upfront fee from Pryce for coaching her son, but a plot about how she invests this money fades away; Zero transitions too swiftly from potentially being a rival for Santi’s attention to becoming an ally, then slips into a minor role.

The main character, “Stick,” generally avoids conflict and features an entertaining rivalry between Pryce and his former tour partner Clark Ross, played by Timothy Olyphant, who has transformed his C-list golf fame into an insurance endorsement and steakhouse bearing his name. However, other potential conflicts such as Pryce’s possible gambling addiction or the question of whether he views Santi as a person or just an opportunity, are either brushed aside or resolved too swiftly to leave a lasting impact on the audience. The show could benefit from further exploring these issues to make it more engaging. Instead, it chooses a more lighthearted and sweet approach, with Maron’s cynical persona keeping the tone from becoming overly sentimental – at least for now. I worry that if “Stick” becomes popular, it might develop in ways similar to “Ted Lasso,” but less favorably.

The show “Stick” is typically approachable for new golfers, offering clear explanations of fundamental rules such as which clubs are best for different shots. However, in recent episodes towards the end of the season, the series has shifted focus to reflect its real-life counterpart more closely, featuring actual professionals like Collin Morikawa. The show seems to act as a promoter for the PGA, possibly explaining why it avoids mentioning Saudi competitor LIV Golf, a significant and controversial recent development in golf. For a different perspective on this topic, viewers might turn to Netflix’s documentaries “Full Swing” or the upcoming scripted series from Will Ferrell and Ramy Youssef, titled simply “Golf.” Unlike these productions, “Stick” maintains a more modest profile, with the game ultimately being an individual’s endeavor. The show belongs to Wilson, and this arrangement generally suits it well.

Currently, the initial three installments of “Stick” are available for streaming on Apple TV+. The subsequent episodes will be released every Wednesday.

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2025-06-04 16:17