Mindy Kaling is back with Running Point. She has been a singular comic voice on television for the past fifteen years. Her Fox and Hulu series The Mindy Project, which you can also find streaming on Netflix, was one of the funniest sitcoms of the decade. Then came the semi-autobiographical Never Have I Ever, a hilarious coming-of-age story unlike anything else on television, whether streaming or network.
However, Running Point is nothing like those shows because it’s just another run-of-the-mill comedy. The series is not particularly funny, relying too heavily on excessive exposition and basketball lingo that isn’t executed well. It’s pleasant enough but ultimately a gigantic letdown, given the cast and the talent involved, particularly behind the camera.
Netflix’s Running Point Review and Synopsis
Running Point follows Isla (Kate Hudson), the daughter of the late owner of the Los Angeles Waves. She takes control of the team when her brother (Justin Theroux) is forced to resign after a very public scandal. At her side is her best friend and biggest supporter, Ali (a very funny Brenda Song), who helps her navigate the pitfalls of running a professional sports franchise.
However, her brothers, Ness (No Hard Feelings’ Scott MacArthur) and Sandy (Unfrosted’s Drew Tarver, seemingly doing his best Jason Bateman impression), have their feathers ruffled after being passed over. So, not only does Isla have to push back against her family, but she also has to fight against the perception that she is unfit for the role in a male-dominated industry.
Netflix’s Running Point and Mindy Kaling Double Dribble
One of those who openly disrespects her is the team’s star player, Travis (Chet Hanks, doing, uh, Chet Hanks things), a motor-mouthed point guard who lacks maturity. His coach (Top Gun: Maverick’s Jay Ellis) only offers her genuine, non-condescending advice. Isla then orchestrates a trade to set up her team for the season—one that puts her reputation on the line.
There’s too much going on in Kaling’s new series, from Hudson trying to juggle personal and professional challenges to a subplot involving Fabrizio Guido, a character who may have the same biological rights to the Waves as Isla and her brothers do. The jokes don’t land, and Kaling’s trademark self-deprecation is strangely absent from the writing of Hudson’s character, whose plot and humor run through.
Is Netflix’s Running Point Worth Watching?
Running Point is not worth watching unless you are a diehard fan of Kate Hudson. The humor feels recycled. For instance, many writers and executive producers from Kaling’s previous series, including the hilarious Ike Barinholtz. However, MacArthur’s Ness is a clone of Barinholtz’s Morgan but not nearly as funny and inventive. You wonder why he didn’t play him in the first place.
There are numerous examples of this in this Netflix sitcom, which is the comedy equivalent of a double dribble. There is a lack of excitement and humor in the series that seems to be going through the motions, including dull plot points and standard cliche humor. That’s a shame because this series cast and creative talents never lift the material to its absolute potential.
All eight episodes of Running Point were screened for this review. You can stream this series only on Netflix starting on February 27!
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