Commentary: ‘The Hawk’ Isn’t Quite A ‘Happy Gilmore’ Clone

On the surface, The Hawk seems like a rehashing of Happy Gilmore, and rightfully so. The series is about a bombastic golfer who bucks classic golf etiquette in favor of showmanship. His wild antics draw huge crowds and unconventional attention the world of golf can benefit from. The main character also draws ire from the traditional golf elite, who view them as travesties to the sport. There are even scenes with dialogue from The Hawk that could have been lifted straight from the Happy Gilmore script. However, in analyzing the nuances of both characters, audiences can see a clear difference between the two.

The Hawk is about an old, washed up golfer named Lonnie Hawkins (Will Ferrell) — nicknamed the Hawk — who found success early in his career. While his son, Lance (Jimmy Tatro), is on a trajectory of success, his star is fading despite working tremendously hard to mount a comeback. Eventually, alongside a brand new caddy named Sam (Fortune Feimster), Hawkins manages to get his old rhythm back and make the cut for the pro tour. But he still faces an uphill battle by challenging his rising son and golf’s status quo, which seeks to undermine his success.

The Hawk and Happy Gilmore (Adam Sandler) both represent unconventional golfers who resonate with the public. They both approach the game from completely different backgrounds, though. Gilmore wasn’t a golfer at all. He was a hockey player. So he was an outsider trying to fit in to a place that was alien to him. By contrast, the Hawk is very much a golfer. Right from the beginning, the audience can see that this is someone who has spent decades on the course and is wholly in love with the game. He may be an unconventional golfer, but he is absolutely a golfer in spirit. Seeing odd antics come from someone who isn’t an outsider, but rather someone who already feels at home with the sport, allows The Hawk to separate itself from Happy Gilmore.

The Hawk is now streaming on Netflix.