Stick
With the rise in A-list actors turning to small screen projects, former frat pack staple Owen Wilson stars in his first-ever major TV series. The result is Stick, Apple TV+’s enjoyable golfing dramedy. Wilson stars as former world champion golfer turned sporting equipment salesman Pryce “Stick” Cahill. Living in squalor in the house he once shared with his ex, Amber-Linn (Judy Greer), he is reduced to scamming barflies with his friend, Mitts (Marc Maron), in order to make ends meet.
Pryce struggles with a deep-seated insecurity as he mourns his former glory and wallows in his myriad past failures. One day, he notices young grocery store worker Santi (Peter Dager) acing his swings at the driving range. The pair team up, with the talented amateur inspiring hope in his slacker mentor. But, as with Pryce, we soon learn that golf is both the source of and remedy to Santi’s trauma.
Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris lend their signature chipper style to proceedings. Shots of sunny Middle America and perfectly landscaped golf greens complement the feel-good narrative. Wilson is a warm lead, encapsulating the flawed but ultimately likeable protagonist. Newcomer Dager is a suitably low-key companion to the frantic former golf pro, and we’ll undoubtedly see more of him in future. Meanwhile, Maron lends his trademark fast-talking witticisms to Mitts, offering understated comic relief to the at times ruminative script.
Despite that, it’s admittedly a little short on laughs. Though Wilson is at the helm, the script opts not to make use of his tried and tested funnyman shtick. The series favours organic character development over grand comedic set pieces, though it excels at being sentimental without veering into overly syrupy territory.
The age-old tale of a former pro turning to a gifted protégé is a familiar one, but Stick’s heartwarming storytelling is a welcome antidote to the cynicism that so often permeates modern television. The result is old-school cosy comfort viewing that tugs – or rather, swings – at the heartstrings.
Antonia Georgiou
Stick is released on Apple TV+ on 4th June 2025.
Watch the trailer for Stick here:
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