Not all heartwarming sports activities comedies need to be in comparison with “Ted Lasso” — the style did exist earlier than Jason Sudeikis‘ merry, mustachioed mentor professed “fútbol is life” (like, say, in 1989 when “Main League” featured the exact same premise) — however “Stick‘s” makes an attempt to duplicate the system are not possible to disregard. There’s the middle-aged coach who’s out of his depth, taking an all-or-nothing shot on an unlikely star. There’s the fast formation of a assist crew, the lingering family-related trauma, and the large, significant monologues. All of the whereas, a tear-tugging soundtrack of white acoustic-rock underscores a redemption story discovered on the sphere however realized off it.
A part of the magic of “Ted Lasso” comes from seeing a school soccer coach from Kansas show his doubters unsuitable by turning his perceived weaknesses into irrefutable strengths. However Jason Keller’s Apple TV+ sequence (sure, it’s additionally an Apple present, because the streamer continues to construct out its “Ted Lasso” TV universe) can’t pull off the identical enchantment. The weaknesses of its coach, Pryce Cahill (Owen Wilson), are simply that — weaknesses Pryce by no means actually reckons with (be it playing, anger, or repression), and weaknesses the present round him involves embody, regardless of claiming they’re strengths.
“Stick” takes too many shortcuts whereas rushing by a 10-episode first season that performs out precisely as you count on. Regardless of a proficient ensemble (led by Wilson’s whispery Southern charisma), too many characters by no means evolve past a single dimension, and too many sentimental turning factors are taken as a right. The season could also be a serviceable substitute till “Ted Lasso” returns, however there’s no mistaking this beginner imitation for its veteran inspiration.
So let’s discuss Pryce Cahill, who begins the present having a tricky time. You wouldn’t understand it from his cheery disposition, which he wields with such persistent affability he’s not solely in a position to flatter a suggestible professional store buyer into shopping for a $1,200 membership he doesn’t want, however he also can persuade his distrusting boss to provide him an advance on the fee. It’s solely once you see the state of his residence (buckets of golf balls stacked precariously on unopened piles of mail, garments hanging from kitchen cupboards, meals containers scattered throughout each simply reachable floor) that you simply begin to understand Pryce will not be the happy-go-lucky man he presents to the world.
His ex-wife, Amber-Linn (Judy Greer, queen of the thankless spouse and mom roles), is making an attempt to promote their home, after giving Pryce two years to maneuver out. His greatest buddy, Mitts (Marc Maron), is especially simply an confederate for low-stakes scams, and the remainder of his previous is a reminiscence gap he’s desperately avoiding and completely trapped in. Pryce was an expert golfer — not only a golf professional, like he’s now at a shabby course in Indiana, however an elite member of the PGA. He used to out-duel Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh, however a mid-round meltdown value him his Tour card, and his life shortly unraveled from there.
“However wait,” you may be questioning, “why did he soften down?” I’ll let “Stick” unveil that secret, however it shouldn’t come as a shock after Pryce latches onto a fatherless teenager with a once-in-a-generation swing. Santi (Peter Dager) has the pop and the precision to go professional, and seeing that potential wakes one thing up in Pryce. He’s . He’s motivated. He’s within the sport once more (although he doesn’t truly play golf anymore — a supposedly telling choice “Stick” treats loosely).
The primary two episodes make fast work pairing participant and coach, incomes the belief of Santi’s mother Elena (Mariana Treviño) and hitting the street to qualify for the Beginner Tour. Pryce even convinces Mitts, his former caddy, to come back alongside after seeing Santi’s swing for himself, and as soon as Santi meets a “nomad” named Zero (Lilli Kay), there’s quickly another under-20 participant. (“Stick” actually doesn’t like Gen-Z, however such disdain doesn’t match the kindness vibe, in order that they shortly curtail Zero’s preliminary onslaught of annoying overreactions.) The makeshift household now totally assembled, all that’s left to do is watch Santi win matches so everybody can smile and bond and be taught that profitable isn’t the whole lot.
The golf itself is shot with way more motion than your typical ESPN broadcast, with pilot administrators Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris using slo-motion drone pictures of lengthy drives and high-definition close-ups of grass-shredding irons to make a low-key sport seem as fast-paced as doable. Paired with roaring rock songs (together with the whole lot from T. Rex to Beastie Boys), the scenes work nicely sufficient to get your aggressive juices flowing, however even with some credibly intelligent pictures (a 3-iron from 120-something yards late within the season is especially ingenious), the matches develop monotonous. There’s solely so many instances you possibly can watch Wilson gaze in marvel at just a little white ball flying by the air.
It’s laborious accountable Keller for glossing over even Santi’s most important rounds, however the identical want for velocity doesn’t apply as soon as he steps off the 18th inexperienced. With the story, it too typically feels such as you’re watching a mean golfer on the two hundredth spherical at their native course: They know the place the opening is, they know the place the traps are, and so they know the best strategy to keep away from getting caught is to play it secure. Every shot has been mapped out for the reason that begin, and there’s little room for improvisation, not to mention enchancment.
“Stick’s” title technically refers to Pryce’s nickname (which simply means he’s a great golfer), however it additionally works as a descriptive verb: The present holds agency to what it’s firstly, hoping its similarities to a greater present (“Ted Lasso”) and the inherent goodwill of its genial star are sufficient to earn viewers’ affections. In consequence, the character arcs are condensed, and the ensemble nonetheless seems like strangers by the top of the spherical. (Maron’s lovable grump Mitts is especially short-changed.)
Anybody pre-sold on its premise could discover “Stick” to be good sufficient, however for all of the hype over “Ted Lasso’s” radical kindness, that’s not all that made the present shine. (You recognize, not less than for the primary two seasons.) It was a humorous concept (underscored with loads of jokes), it cared about its characters, and it savored each.
Considered one of TV’s best strengths is time, and whereas nobody wants one other bloated streaming sequence (please don’t let “Stick” Season 2 swell to the size of “Ted Lasso” Season 3), there’s no shortcut to a real connection. It’s worthwhile to put within the time, the care, and the eye — which can also be the way you enhance your golf sport, not that Santi would know. (He by no means practices. It’s… insane.) The outdated saying goes, “Golf is an effective stroll spoiled,” however “Stick” spoils a great sport by sprinting by it. Ted Lasso would by no means.
Grade: C
“Stick” premieres Wednesday, June 4 on Apple TV+ with three episodes. New episodes will likely be launched weekly by July 23.