Hole in None of the Comedy.
You would think that a golf series created by Will Ferrell and his old comedy partners Harper Steele and Chris Henchy would be hilarious and brilliant. Think back to “Talledega Night: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” when Ferrell entered the world of Nascar, think back to “Kicking and Screaming” when he did soccer, think back to “Blades of Glory” when he did figure skating, and think back to “Semi Pro” when he tried basketball. Now, think about his new show “The Hawk,” and imagine how better he could have done with golf. This is no “Caddyshack.”
Ferrell stars as golf pro Lonnie Hawkins, whose caddy Old Henry (Keith David) dies on the golf course and has to withdraw from a competition. He’s fallen on hard times, even maxing out his credit card to get satellite for his tour bus. But then he finds out on TV that his estranged son Lance (Jimmy Tatro) may be a better golfer than he ever was. That’s why he decides to get back in the game and earn a name in the PGA by trying to win three Korn Ferry events. And that’s why he hires a new caddy named Sam (Fortune Feimster), who gives him a motto: “Delicious Beats Bullsh*t.” Meaning: when you’re mad, have a Milky Way.
Along with Feimster and Tatro, we have a lot of Ferrell’s old comedy stars like Molly Shannon as his wife trying to promote her alcoholic iced tea drinks called “Teed Off,” Chris Parnell as an arrogant golf executive appalled by Lonnie’s comeback, and Luke Wilson as the rival golf pro Golden Fisk. I’m glad I was able to think about “Saturday Night Live” or “Old School” when Ferrell reunites with Shannon and Wilson respectively, but the reunion needs to possess the same magic as those comedies.
I like how Lonnie imagines himself in a music video of Steely Dan’s “Reelin’ in the Years” as his happy place. It almost made me think back to SNL when he did the cowbell skit for the “Don’t Fear the Reaper” recording. And Feimster has a Melissa McCarthy vibe that makes her attitude and dialogue appealing enough for a comedy. She seems like a fun person to get to know, and she has her vulnerabilities that makes her character likable. However, a sharp moment every now and then is not enough to recommend this show.
The better recent golf comedy series on any streaming service is “Stick,” which is on AppleTV and stars Owen Wilson as a former pro who helps a youngster make it big in the sport, while trying to overcome his own turmoil. That show has its heart in the right place, but “The Hawk” has its comedy in the wrong place. The kind where the golf ball gets eaten by an alligator, and not even Happy Gilmore can get that back. It wants to go for the family drama, but we have too many mommy and daddy issues to care about them.
Ferrell is a major comedy talent with a big list of movies and shows, but his new character is a jerk with nothing funny or insightful to give to his fans. If he and Harper Steele can give us a truthful road trip documentary like “Will & Harper” and help bring “Saturday Night Live” in the 90s and 2000s, then they and Henchy should have reflected that on “The Hawk.” If it is a hit enough to start a second season, then it’s going to need to work on its golf swings.
Less cursing, and more cowbell!
Now Streaming on Netflix
