The equivalent of missing out on what should be an easy layup, "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty" stumbles upon the road to greatness, pitching the subject matter with an uneven, sometimes visionary tone for basketball fans. cannot reduce. Although the excess of '80s style is clearly to blame for a lot of the sizzle, the practice feels like a no-look pass that goes off limits.
Created by Adam McKay of "Don't Look Up" (who also directed the first episode), and based on Jeff Perlman's book about the period, the 10-episode series focuses on the first season with new boss Jerry Buss (John C. Reilly) drafted rookie phenom Ervin "Magic" Johnson (standout newcomer Quincy Isaiah), who won the first of five NBA titles in a decade.
In addition to their passion for basketball, the late Buss and Johnson (who specifically rejected the project) shared a Playboy lifestyle, while the forum, where the Lakers played their games, was the hottest in town. in ticket.
What became known as the "Showtime" Lakers (a title left unused by HBO for obvious reasons) featured a larger-than-life collection of personalities, and a series of soap-opera-worthy twists, such as Coach Jerry West (Jason Clark) is leaving, but still moving around; And new coach Jack McKinney (Tracy Letts) suffers a devastating accident that left assistant Paul Westhead (Jason Segel) in charge.
Still, "Winning Time" feels too sweet for its own good, especially in the early stages, when the characters keep breaking the fourth wall to chat directly with the audience, and everyone except Bus and Magic seems to be jerks. Is.
To be fair, the series followed that (eight out of 10 episodes previewed), focusing on taking out individual players, from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Solomon Hughes, a mere 6'11") to Buss's daughter Jenny. done) settles down (Hadley Robinson), being scornfully treated by her direct owners because she is the owner's child.
Scattered along the way are some memorable moments, such as Buss's encounter with Boston Celtics boss Red Orbach (Michael Chiklis), which shapes the real-estate mogul into a dilettante and makes him any threat to the Celtics' aspirations. as rejects. Reilly also makes the most of the bus's flair, spending almost drunkenly as he hangs over the edge of a financial cliff and reassures everyone who asks, "Let me worry about the money."
For those wondering, most of the actors are about six inches shorter than their real-life counterparts, but the basketball sequence—and the cleverly washed-out vocals used throughout shooting the production—work quite well. Isaiah captures Johnson's charisma and infectious enthusiasm, but also his competitive streak, especially with fellow rookie superstar Larry Bird (Sean Patrick Smalls), the league's "Great White Hope".
Yet despite its all-star lineup, which includes Sally Field as Bus's mother and Adrien Brody as future coach Pat Riley, "Winning Time" plays very fast and loose—from snippets of animation to cheeky As of now, approaching your stuff with a irreverent on-screen coward, in a way that is off-putting from time to time. For those watching ESPN's documentary "The Last Dance," he recounts that goal, winding down in a creative no-man's land.
Buss emerges as a visionary who recognized the potential of the NBA and Johnson's magnetism to not only win the title, but, thanks to a rivalry with the Celtics, elevate the fortunes of the entire league.
It's a high-stakes, fact-based story that requires very little embellishment, which can do for the game what "Succession" does for the media.
However, that blue-chip roster only makes "Winning Time"'s shortcomings more apparent. While the Lakers rose to the occasion, the series fell short of its potential in terms of conjuring premium-TV magic.