Owen Wilson in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photograph: Apple TV+.
‘Stick’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.
Launched on Apple TV+ on June 4th with three episodes (adopted by one each Wednesday by July twenty third), ‘Stick’ seems to play an identical recreation to Apple smash hit ‘Ted Lasso.’
Starring Owen Wilson, the solid additionally consists of Peter Dager, Marc Maron, Mariana Treviño, Lilli Kay, Judy Greer and Timothy Olyphant.
Related Article: Producer and Marvel Creative Executive Kevin Wright Talks ‘Loki’ Season 2
Preliminary Ideas
(L to R) Owen Wilson and Peter Dager in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photograph: Apple TV+.
Regardless of its rampant reputation within the skilled sporting world, and a legion of novice club-swingers who head to programs internationally of their free time, golf is a pastime that hasn’t gotten the toe maintain in in style tradition to the identical degree as say soccer and even soccer.
True, there have been a wealth of films, together with the likes of ‘Tin Cup’ and ‘Happy Gilmore,’ however now ‘Stick’ is trying to degree the enjoying subject on the small display. Or ought to that be course?
Principally, although, the game is extra a backdrop for the character work, and particularly the arc of Wilson’s Pryce, who seeks redemption on the inexperienced and off of it. And, a lot as with ‘Ted Lasso,’ the collection round him goals to be a mix of sports activities story, hangout comedy and a few deeper feelings, not all of them as sunny because the lead’s regular disposition.
Script and Path
Judy Greer in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photograph: Apple TV+.
‘Stick’ hails from creator Jason Keller, whose output has largely been confined to the massive display, together with scripting the likes of ‘Ford V Ferrari,’‘Mirror Mirror’ and ‘Machine Gun Preacher.’
Right here, teamed with showrunner Christopher Moynihan (‘Marlon,’‘100 Questions’), he seems to open up the world of golf in a approach probably not explored since Adam Sandler’s heavy hitter –– certainly, the character of sweet sixteen prodigy Santi, performed by Peter Dager, has some resonance with Blissful Gilmore, since he’s equally in a position to thwack a ball nice distances (although he’s much less burning with anger, extra simmering with resentful stress).
The main focus, although, is on Pryce, a person who as soon as flirted with true {golfing} glory, solely to let his personal anger points get in the way in which –– points that had been infected by a previous tragedy in his life.
Keller and the writers discover a solution to play to Wilson’s principally laidback strengths, however nonetheless give him alternatives to go in one other, fiercer course when wanted.
(L to R) Marc Maron and Owen Wilson in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photograph: Apple TV+.
Round him, they’ve constructed an efficient set of characters with fascinating tales of their very own (even Marc Maron’s Mitts, who is usually the grumpy former caddy-turned-wise previous owl has an opportunity to shine), and if a number of the narrative hits a ball into sand entice, the writing retrieves it properly sufficient.
The administrators, which embrace ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ duo Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris alongside David Dobkin (‘Wedding Crashers’, which after all was a giant hit for Wilson) and Jaffar Mahmood (‘The Residence’) hold the concentrate on the folks, but in addition discover a solution to open up the golf video games in order to make them comprehensible to those that don’t watch it often.
Forged and Performances
Mariana Treviño in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photograph: Apple TV+.
Owen Wilson has discovered a very good groove on the small display of late –– he was a spotlight of each seasons of ‘Loki’ and right here is enjoying a personality he can actually make work. As Pryce “Stick” Cahill, his good-natured charisma shines by, however he’s additionally keen to go to darker locations when crucial. And he performs properly off of everybody else, not least Judy Greer (as Pryce’s ex-wife Amber-Lynn) and Peter Dager’s Santi.
Speaking of the younger golf whizz, Dager is handed and ably brings to life a extra sophisticated function than only a moody teenager with one standout means. He’s humorous and charming at instances, and in addition in a position to embody Santi’s frustration when life will get in his approach.
As talked about, Judy Greer has a supporting function, however is usually glorious, balancing exasperation with enthusiasm and actual coronary heart.
Peter Dager in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photograph: Apple TV+.
Santi’s mom Elena is dropped at screens by ‘A Man Called Otto’s Mariana Treviño, and he or she’s additionally efficient, treading a cautious path between a mom nervous about her son and trying to safe her personal future. Her chemistry with Maron’s Mitts is especially rewarding.
Maron at all times offers good gruff, and the function of Mitts matches him properly. He’s received his personal causes for behaving the way in which he does, and his historical past with Pryce works.
Lilli Kay provides some romantic curiosity to Santi’s life, however is greater than merely a purpose for him to need to impress folks. The function turns into extra essential because the story strikes alongside, that Kay is greater than as much as the duty.
Closing Ideas
Marc Maron in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photograph: Apple TV+.
It won’t precisely have fairly the identical layers as ‘Ted Lasso,’ but when ‘Stick’ doesn’t precisely rating a gap in a single, it’s in a position to keep beneath par and show to be an efficient supply system for each charming comedy and respectable drama.
“Take a giant swing.”
Pryce Cahill was headed for golf greatness when an on-course meltdown derailed his profession. Now struggling to remain afloat, he goes all in to mentor Santi—a teenage… Read the Plot
What’s the plot of ‘Stick’?
Owen Wilson stars as Pryce Cahill, an over-the-hill, ex-pro golfer whose profession was derailed prematurely 20 years in the past.
After the collapse of his marriage and getting fired from his job at an Indiana sporting items retailer, Pryce hedges his bets, and future, totally on a troubled 17-year-old golf phenom named Santi (Peter Dager).
The brand new sports activities comedy is a few discovered household and their relationships set throughout the world of golf because it has by no means been proven earlier than.
Who’s within the solid of ‘Stick’?
- Owen Wilson as Pryce Cahill
- Peter Dager as Santi Wheeler
- Lilly Kay as Zero
- Mariana Treviño as Elena
- Marc Maron as Mitts
- Judy Greer as Amber-Linn
- Timothy Olyphant as Clark Ross
- Rob Benedict as Chuck Grey
Timothy Olyphant in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photograph: Apple TV+.