Will Ferrell Drives Netflix's 1 New Golf Comedy 'The Hawk'

Q: Is the golden age of slapstick sports comedies over, or does Ferrell's goofy golf series secretly offer the perfect summer escape?

The golden age is probably over, but *The Hawk* still works reasonably well as a low-stakes summer escape if viewers want broad, undemanding comedy rather than a return to Will Ferrell’s peak. The evidence points both ways. Critics have been largely negative, with Rotten Tomatoes scores reported in the mid-to-high 20s and low 30s. Reviews say the 10-episode Netflix series is thin on golf detail, weak as satire, and too centered on glorifying Ferrell’s washed-up champion Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins. Several critics also argue it feels stretched, as if a 90-minute movie premise was expanded into a five-hour binge. At the same time, the show does deliver what it promises: slapstick, vulgar jokes, absurd golf antics, and cameo-driven silliness. Ferrell’s comic persona still fits that material naturally, and some reviewers called it “extremely daft summer viewing” and “occasionally very funny.” Audience reaction appears warmer than the critical response, with reported viewer scores around the mid-60s and strong enough streaming numbers to put it high on Netflix’s charts shortly after release. What *The Hawk* does not do is revive the genre in the way *Anchorman*, *Talladega Nights* or *Step Brothers* once defined Ferrell-era studio comedy. It is not a landmark sports comedy, and it does not seem likely to reset the form. But for viewers looking for a goofy, half-hour binge with familiar Ferrell chaos, it may be exactly the kind of disposable summer watch Netflix is built for.

3 articles · Updated · NPR · Jul 24

Will Ferrell plays a washed-up golf star trying to recover his game in Netflix series "The Hawk," a review says, framing the show as broad, goofy comedy rather than a prestige sports drama.
The review says the series works through satisfying silliness, comic shenanigans and surprise cameos, even as it acknowledges the show has noticeable flaws.
That mix leaves "The Hawk" positioned as an easygoing Ferrell vehicle aimed at viewers seeking light streaming entertainment built around golf and slapstick.