‘Hoops’ Review — Netflix’s Animated Comedy is Neither An Air Ball Nor a Slam Dunk

GameStop, Inc.

Hoops Review Netflix

What is the comedic value of profanity? Of course, there’s no concrete answer but the question constantly swirled around my brain as I watched the Netflix animated comedy Hoops. Created by Ben Hoffman, Hoops is a show that is gleefully profane. Minute after minute unleashes a barrage of expletives upon the viewer even if its multitude of F-bombs doesn’t always yield laughs. Hoops is a frustrating series in its inaugural season as it’s so heavily focused on trying to be shocking by being aggressively crass that its storylines and characters suffer. Then a noticeable shift happens in the final four episodes of Hoops that the show suddenly finds its balance between its premise, its characters, and its relentless profanity. However, the fact that Hoops finds its groove in its final four episodes of a ten-episode season isn’t enough to overcome its mediocre start which almost had me abandoning the show before it found its groove.

Ben Hopkins (Jake Johnson) is a high school basketball coach. He doesn’t have much knowledge of the game. His players aren’t on their way to scholarships and professional careers. What Ben Hopkins has is an incredible sense of entitlement and a short fuse. At a moment’s notice, Ben can unleash a temper tantrum overflowing with F-bombs. The best real world analog for Ben Hopkins would be the infamous basketball coach Bobby Knight, though it should be noted that Knight did have some success despite being an all around horrible person. How could such an ill-tempered, profane, and incompetent person be in charge of a youth basketball team? Easy. Ben’s father is Barry Hopkins (Rob Riggle), the town’s beloved basketball hero who has maintained his celebrity by owning a local steakhouse.

At the school where he coaches, Ben is subject to little oversight from the school’s principal Opa (Cleo King), though the combination of a losing record and profane outbursts do get him in a little bit of trouble which he’s able to often wiggle out of thanks to his famous father. His assistant coach Ron (Ron Funches) is one of his best friends, and Ron just so happens to seeing Ben’s ex-wife Shannon (Natasha Leggero). Ben’s arrogance makes it all but impossible for him to have anything resembling a meaningful relationship with the people in his life, and the show suffers early on from this because the jokes are rooted entirely in Ben’s oblivious blustering and not the profound sadness of his incurious being. It’s not until later in the season that these fractured relationships actually become more of the show’s focus and every aspect of the show improves as it finds depth to the characters and builds humorous situations that aren’t solely rooted in its main character’s maniacal outbursts.

The team that Ben oversees isn’t a roster of brimming with athleticism. They’re short. Some are overweight. They’re not skilled players. Despite their basketball shortcomings, they’re good kids who place their youthful trust in the incompetent tutelage of their coach. But Ben soon discovers a potential game changer on campus in the form of Matty (A.D. Miles), a lanky outcast whose size could make a difference on the court. To recruit and keep Matty on the roster Ben places himself in a number of morally abhorrent situations, often dragging his young roster of players into his devious schemes which deliver wildly mixed comedic results.

Hoops is at its weakest when its aiming for shock value, and that is much of the show’s personality for its first six episodes. It’s not that I’m a prude or somehow offended by salty language or scenarios where animated teenagers are in the company of cheap prostitutes. It’s more that the jokes just don’t land consistently, and that’s really all that creator Ben Hoffman and his team of writers have to offer at first. Hoops does turn its season around when the show creates it jokes out of its characters and their unique perspective, allowing the show to utilize its crude humor in effective storylines about teacher strikes and private schools looking to poach players from Ben’s roster. When Hoops eventually finds its footing you’re left to wonder where the smart and funny version of the show was hiding.

The biggest problem with Hoops is its inconsistency. It’s neither terrible nor great, though it comes close to achieving both at separate times. Despite my mixed feelings on the animated comedy I’d happily welcome a second season to see if its creative team can build upon the impressive progress made towards season’s end. I think future seasons of Hoops can blossom into something special, a show that outrageously lampoons the twisted world of youth sports where adults badger children into following their dreams of faded glory. In its first season, Hoops just isn’t completely there yet. It’s just a piece or two away from being a championship contender. An elite squad isn’t built overnight. When it comes to the future of Hoops, guess I’ll just have to trust the process.

Hoops
  • Overall Score
2.5

Summary

A gleefully profane but uneven animated comedy, Hoops often settles for shock humor to little avail early in its inaugural season before finding its footing in later episodes that hints to a potential future as a crass caustic comedy.

Anytime Costumes

Leave a Reply

FanboyNation
Animation/Anime Interviews Animation/Anime News Animation/Anime Reviews Film/TV Interviews Film/TV News Film/TV Review
We Test Our EQ By Revisiting the ‘New Zoo Revue’ with Doug and Emily Momary – Interview

We revisit the classic 1970s series, ‘The New Zoo Revue‘ with...

Kari Wahlgren Talks Voicing Aunt May in ‘Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’

Legendary voice actress, Kari Wahlgren returns to the Spider-Man multiverse as...

Melissa Roxburgh & Patrick Sabongui Talk About NBC’s ‘The Hunting Party’ – Interview

Melissa Roxburgh and Patrick Sabongui talk about their new NBC Procedural...

Event News Event Reviews
‘The Marvelous Wonderettes’ is Wonderous at The Phantom Projects – Review

Off-Broadway comes to North Orange County with ‘The Marvelous Wonderettes‘ at...

‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ Is Oh So Right at La Mirada Theatre – Review

‘The Play That Goes Wrong‘ Leaves Audiences Roaring with Side-Splitting Laughter...

Metal Hall of Fame Rocks Out During NAMM Weekend in Anaheim

The Metal Hall of Fame Rocks Anaheim, CA during NAMM Weekend...

Automotives Football MMA, Kick Boxing & Boxing Professional Wrestling
Goldie Collins uses her ‘Animal Instinct’ in the WOW Tag Team Division – Interview

Goldie Collins and her Animal Instinct tag team partner, Katarina Jinx...

Top Tier Talk About the Season Premiere of WOW – Women Of Wrestling – Interview

Top Tier Talk About the WOW Season Premiere and being named...

WOW and Pluto TV Tag Team with a New Channel – SDCC News

WOW – Women Of Wrestling has a new tag team partner...

Adult Continuity Comics on the Can Cultural Junk Drawer Future Comic Rock Stars Is That Racist? Revisiting the Reviled THAT'S NOT ROTTEN! The B-Reel The Cantina Scene This Week in Crowdfunding What the HELL Did I just...?
Fantoy Comics Presents – Valentine’s day special 2025 pt 1

Ok you got me, I don't surf.

Fantoy Comics Presents – A REPRINT!

Oop!

Fantoy Comics Presents – THINGS TO COME 2025 pt 4

J-Hope's Animal Mystery Squad

Music Interviews Music News Music Reviews
John Dawson Talks His Cody Rhodes Inspired Song ‘Under All the Lights’ – Interview

Canadian Singer/Songwriter John Dawson Talks About His Cody and Brandi Rhodes...

Composer Youssef Guezoum Nominated for Two HMMA Awards – Interview

Moroccan born composer, Youssef Guezoum takes his adopted country by storm...

Isabella Summers Talks Composing for the Animated Feature ‘Hitpig!’ – Interview

‘Hitpig!‘ Composer, Isabella Summers Talks About Composing for the Indie Animated...

Enabled Gaming Gaming News Gaming Reviews
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Gameplay Trailer

The first Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League gameplay trailer was revealed during...

Wonder Woman Game
Wonder Woman Game Announced By DC and WB Games

Wonder Woman game will feature the iconic hero in a 3rd...

MultiVersus
MultiVersus brings Batman, Arya Stark, Bugs Bunny, and More

MultiVersus is bringing Shaggy, Harley Quinn, Jake, Batman, Arya Stark, Bugs Bunny,...

Comic Creator Interviews Comic/Graphic Novel News Comic/Graphic Novel Reviews Manga News Manga Reviews Novel/Novella Author Interviews Novel/Novella News Novel/Novella Reviews
Michael Hirsh Made Gen X Citizens Via his ‘Animation Nation’ – Interview

Legendary Animator, Michael Hirsh goes from Immigrant to Emperor in his...

Billy Eddy Talks His new Book ‘Our New World of Adult Bullies’ – Interview

Lawyer, Mediator and Personality Expert Bill Eddy Provides a Six-Step Strategy...

Gary Morgenstein Talks ‘A Dugout to Peace’ the Final Installment of his Trilogy

Gary Morgenstein Talks About ‘A Dugout to Peace‘ the final installment...

Apparel/Personal Maintenance News Apparel/Personal Maintenance Reviews Entertainment Product News Entertainment Product Reviews Food/Beverage Reviews Hardware News Hardware Reviews Mystery Box News Mystery Box Reviews
The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan Unveils Halo Collar 4 – Interview

Cesar Millan Unveils Halo Collar 4: A Game-Changer for the Safety...

Artista Cigars Unveils Name Change For Two Cigar Lines – News

Artista Cigars Unveils Packaging Redesign and Name Change for Puro Ambar...

Artista Cigars Announces David Ortiz Hall of Fame Cigars – News

Artista Cigars Announces Baseball Hall of Famer David Ortiz Hall of...

Gaming Uncensored Toon-In-Talk
Episode 38: Hamid Rahmanian

Join Whitney Grace as she speaks with artist Hamid Rahmanian, who...

No Preview
Toon-In Talk Episode 37: Niki Smith

Whitney Grace interviews graphic novel writer and artist Niki Smith about...

Toon-In Talk Episode 36: Rob Paulsen

Rob Paulsen takes some time from his busy voice acting schedule...