by Charles Kirkland, Jr.
When a washed-up golf pro finds a prodigy in the making, he finds himself becoming a mentor on the road to fame in Stick.
Pryce “Stick” Cahill used to be one of the best golfers in the world until he melted down at a tournament and got himself banned from competition. Working as an advising golf pro at the local golf course, he comes across Santiago Wheeler, blasting balls off the tee of the driving range. Deeply enamored by his performance, Pryce convinces Santi (and his mother) to allow him to mentor him to greatness and a tour card by winning the amateur championship.
Created by Jason Keller (Ford v. Ferrari), Stick is a sports comedy that stars Owen Wilson as Pryce Cahill and Peter Dager as Santi Wheeler. The ensemble is rounded out by Lilli Kay, Mariana Treviño, Judy Greer, Marc Maron, and Timothy Olyphant.
The ensemble is charming. Marc Maron plays Stick’s sardonic ex-caddy, friend, and co-hustler, Mitts. His gloom and doom are the perfect antithesis to Wilson’s character. Judy Greer plays ex-wife Amber-Linn, who just wants Stick to move on with his life. Veteran character actress Mariana Treviño, Santi’s overly protective mother Elena, serves as the heart of the show with an undeniable energy and desire.
It is Owen Wilson’s charm (along with his aggressive and incessant comedic timing) that serves as the anchor for the show’s style and comedy. His extremely recognizable portrayal of Pryce “Stick” Cahill, a former pro golfer derailed by personal tragedy, supplies a variety of light-hearted and humorous moments in order to avoid confronting his trauma and the trauma of his ward. Because of Wilson’s work, the show seems like a close relative of the ultra-popular Ted Lasso. In fact, at times, Stick could be the love child of Ted Lasso, Tin Cup, and Happy Gilmore.
Stick borrows heavily from its structure and tone of Lasso but lacks the same level of wit, unexpected emotional depth, or original character writing. Like Tin Cup, romance and obstacles appear, yet they are overcome with simple and tidy resolutions, again missing emotional depth. Like Gilmore, detours into overt golf promotion highlight the presence of real-life golf stars, including Jim Nantz, Trevor Immelman, Collin Morikawa, and more. The focus on the golf legends inhibits the ability to develop characters and leaves plot holes that could be otherwise avoided. Borrowing from these predecessors makes Stick feel unoriginal, but at the same time, comfortable and easy.
Rated TV-MA for language, Stick is a crowd-pleasing romp in familiar formulaic territory. Style over substance, the performances of the actors carry the show instead of the plot. It’s fun, sweet, and charming, but so is cotton candy. Both of them last just as long,
Stick is available on Apple+ starting June 4, 2025.
Grade: C+