5 Things On My Mind: Owen Wilson and golf, clutch Cards, and Kentucky Mule heaven

Here's a piece of my mind on a breezy, sleepy Friday.

Owen Wilson is the cheese garlic bread of entertainment. He’s always welcoming, pleasing the viewer with comfort and humor. He never seems like he’s trying too hard, which is another kind of confidence and an ease on the viewer. While the movies like to team him up with a co-lead with a ton of energy, he’s got the gusto to headline a feature on his own, something that is on display in the upcoming Apple TV+ series, Stick.

Labeled as a comedy series, the Jason Keller-scripted show mixes in dramatic elements with ease as the ten-episode first season gathers steam. Wilson is a burnt-out golf pro who takes a young golfer under his wing on a cross-country trip that includes his former caddy and best friend (Marc Maron, spewing angst like a pro), and the teen’s mother. There’s some Tin Cup seasoning sprinkled into the writing and plot setup, but this isn’t a mind-bending series at all. It’s easy on the eyes and mind. You can be a golf fan or not like the game, and the show’s appeal won’t differ.

Wilson brings it all together well with his trademark wit and a sneaky ability to not overplay a dramatic scene. The title of the series refers to his nickname, and Wilson embodies the fast-talking, hard-crashing vagabond who has a few more skeletons in his closet than the pilot suggests. How Keller and the writing team unfold those plot seasoning elements makes the show work as something to turn the mind off to and enjoy, yet a piece of work that can sneak up on you. The Dreams Not Remembered episode is a kicker. Credit to Timothy Olyphant for a nice two-episode turn. Stick premieres on June 7.