Only a couple works have made the game of golf engaging. More often than not, movies just cannot make the sport into an interesting watch.  Caddyshack made it fun, but only because of the comedy that surrounded it. Ron Shelton’s Tin Cup exists as the strongest example, as the film got to the heart of what made the game so important to its main character. Shelton made the audience care about Kevin Costner’s titular golfer, thus we cared about the game he played. Incredibly, Jason Keller’s new AppleTV series, Stick, could be the best golf story yet. 

The 10 episode series cuts an overly-familiar path in its tale of a washed-up golf pro who sees a chance at redemption through a young prodigy. There is a brotherhood to Owen Wilson’s lead character and to Costner’s from the Shelton picture. There are also purposeful homages to Martin Scorsese’s The Color of Money and John G. Avildsen’s The Karate Kid. Keller doesn’t always steer his series away from conventions, but the writing is always smart and undeniably charming; the entire project carries its audience through on such warmth. 

Stick follows a former golf touring pro named Pryce “Stick” Cahill (Owen Wilson, giving his best performance) whose career was destroyed years ago when he had a very public breakdown on the course. Stick’s life is a mess. He sees himself as a has-been and lives life accordingly. Divorced from wife Amber-Linn (Judy Greer), he still lives in their house, although she is selling it and just waiting for him to sign off. 

Stick spots a teenage golfer, Santi (Peter Dager), at a local driving range. The scene is designed to mirror the moment in the aforementioned Scorsese film where Paul Newman’s “Fast Eddie Felson” first hears Tom Cruise’s character’s “sledgehammer break.” As the young Santi swings, the sound effect gives the illusion that the golf ball has been fired from a shotgun. Stick is amazed at the kid’s power and ability.

After some convincing, Stick talks Santi and his mother Elena (Mariana Treviño) into allowing him to coach the temperamental youth at the summer’s U.S. Amateur Championship.

Marc Maron solidifies another fine performance as Mitts, Stick’s best friend, who is going through his own personal pain. Reluctantly, Mitts agrees to drive Stick, Santi, and Elena along the tour and, hopefully, keep his old friend from screwing up his life any further.

From his ex-wife, to his fans and former colleagues, no one believes in Stick these days. This is why he will bet his entire future (and what little he has) on the lightning in a bottle that is Santi. 

While the series certainly has a lighter tone most of the time, the inherent drama in the lives of its characters is handled with care. Due to the emotional scars of an overbearing father who left the family years ago, Santi is too “loose” regarding his future and skill as a golfer. Elena wonders if she is pushing her son too hard towards the championship. Mitt is a confrontational personality who refuses to let himself dwell on personal pain. Amber-Linn feels sorry for her ex, but can’t fully cut the tether between them. 

A character who comes into Santi’s life, Zero (Lilli Kay) may be a bit too on the nose in the script’s jab at Gen Z, but the show is always smart and makes something quite interesting and ultimately moving out of their inclusion.

Fans of Owen Wilson’s mellow goof-with-a-heart acting will find something deeper this time out. The character stays positive to those around him and is consistently encouraging to Santi, even when the young man loses faith in what he is doing. The actor rarely gets to do such layered work and it has been sometime since he partnered with his friend Wes Anderson. Pryce “Stick” Cahill gives the actor his most relatable character to date. We feel for Stick. Even though his methods are often self-sabotaging, the character has a good heart and a kind soul that comes through in Wilson’s natural and endearing performance.  

Showrunner Keller and his team tread familiar ground, but manage to keep their story pleasant, colorful, and quite moving. It is a delight to spend time with these characters. Each one is so well performend that it didn’t matter if they ever stepped on the golf course. The series would have been just as great if every episode found Stick and his makeshift family unit sitting around discussing life. 

Stick is many things. It plays as an old-style sports piece, a human comedy/drama, a story of friendship, and an underdog tale; traversing each style effortlessly. This sweet and uplifting show is balanced by a supreme tenderness and love letter to the human spirit that makes the series something truly special. 

All episodes were made available for review. Stick premieres June 4 on Apple TV.

Stick

Show Creator Jason Keller

Starring Owen Wilson, Marc Maron, Peter Dager, Mariana Treviño, Judy Greer, Lilli Kay, Timothy Olyphant

Apple Studios, Entertainment 360, Piece of Work Entertainment