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 initially hyped as a thinly veiled take on the controversial LIV golf tour, but it ended up focusing on Ferrell's over-the-hill golfer Lonnie 'The Hawk' Hawkins and his relationship with his son Lance. The show's long development and eventual release have been overshadowed by other streaming-native golf comedies, such as Owen Wilson's 'Stick'.
The show's creative team, including Ferrell's longtime associates, failed to capture the bite of satire and the driving force of narrative momentum. The inciting incident, the death of Hawk's longtime caddy Old Henry, is underplayed, and the character of Sam, the new caddy, seems to kickstart Lonnie's comeback with a single pep talk before disappearing for much of the season's middle stretch. The show's lack of exposition on professional golf makes it difficult for viewers to follow the story.
The character of Lonnie is grating and tiresome, and the show fails to give him real edge, stranding him in an uncanny valley between the two poles. The show's attempt to portray Lonnie as a bad parent but not that bad is a missed opportunity for deeper reflection on a time or place. The show's interests are theoretically in a nuclear family gradually coming back together, but even that theme is halfheartedly pursued.
The show's biggest problem is Lonnie himself, who comes off like a half-baked, softened version of a Danny McBride protagonist. The show's lack of reflection on a time or place and its half-hearted pursuit of themes make it a disappointment for Ferrell enthusiasts.
