The Netflix golf comedy 'The Hawk' starring Will Ferrell has been a major disappointment, especially for fans of Ferrell's classic work. The show, set in the world of professional golf, was highly anticipated as a potential rise-and-fall story similar to 'Talladega Nights'. However, it falls short in several aspects. The show's logline, while reminiscent of 'Talladega Nights', only makes a cursory mention of the controversial LIV golf tour, focusing instead on Ferrell's over-the-hill golfer Lonnie 'The Hawk' Hawkins and his relationship with his son Lance. The long development and eventual release of 'The Hawk' means it got lapped by other streaming-native golf comedies, such as Owen Wilson's 'Stick', which is more effective in explaining the fundamentals and appeal of professional golf.
The show's creative team, closely aligned with Ferrell's perspective, fails to deliver the bite of satire and narrative momentum. The inciting incident, the death of Hawk's caddy Old Henry, is underutilized, and the character of Sam, the new caddy, disappears for much of the season. The show's exploration of a nuclear family gradually coming back together is half-hearted, and the character of Lonnie, while grating, lacks the edge to make him truly memorable. The show's attempt to portray Lonnie's parenting skills is particularly problematic, with a traumatic memory from Lance's childhood being dismissed as an invention, and Lonnie's hedonism being portrayed as a minor issue.
In conclusion, 'The Hawk' is a disappointment, lacking the satire and narrative momentum of Ferrell's previous work. The show's creative team and Ferrell's perspective may have been too closely aligned, resulting in a shallow exploration of the golf world and a character of Lonnie who is neither memorable nor reflective of a specific time or place. The show's release on Netflix has not inspired the same emotion as Ferrell's previous works, and it is unlikely to leave a lasting impact on viewers.
