Match Point, Mockumentary-Sitcom

Supposedly, this is a tennis podcast, but the co-hosts do not seem to know Andy Roddick from Andy Murray. Perhaps that is where the comedy is supposed to come from. At least viewers can identify with their stressed-out producer during the first two episodes of creator-writer-director Joslyn Rose Lyons’ mockumentary-sitcom Match Point, which release today on VOD.

Max is a two-time Olympic tennis gold medalist—one-time came with his co-host and former doubles partner Anthony. Presumably, neither won any Grand Slams, since everyone only talks about the Olympics. At least they look like athletes, as they should, since they are played by former Denver Broncos Superbowl champs Vernon Davis and Omar Bolden. Davis was way better as the sinister villain in Ritual Killer than that oddball VOD thriller deserved. He also intuitively knows when to ham it up for the sake of the material in the first two episodes provided for review.

Indeed, the writing needs a lot of punching up, because Lyons gives viewers a lot of shtick, like Ronan the sound guy, who blows a large alphorn (seen in the Ricola commercial) for reasons that are never quite clear. Frankly, Match Point would be funnier if it focused more on sports, particularly tennis. All the jokes involving neurotic celebrities and vapid influencers just feel shopworn.

It is a shame, because you can really see the cast is trying incredibly hard to make it work. Perhaps Ashley Haas gets the most laughs as Olivia, the producer, who is keenly aware of the trainwreck she has on her hands. Each script probably gives her a great deal of method inspiration.

So far, the episodes only clock-in around fifteen minutes, which is a blessing. Frankly, sports podcasts are a big fat target waiting to be spoofed, but Match Point never really embraces its own premise. Cheers had smarter baseball jokes than the tennis references here. Not recommended, the first two episodes released today (2/11) on VOD platforms.