On August 10, the world watched in awe as Stephen Curry showcased his exceptional skills during the gold medal match against France, leading Team USA to its fifth consecutive gold medal in men’s Olympic basketball.
His impressive performance included hitting four consecutive three-pointers, culminating in his signature “night-night” celebration.
According to his series, Mr. Throwback, this celebration was inspired by a middle school teammate. If you tuned in to the Olympics on NBC or its streaming service Peacock, you likely saw numerous commercials promoting Mr. Throwback, a mockumentary series both starring and produced by Curry himself.
While Curry is prominently featured in the promotional materials, the series Mr. Throwback centers on Danny Grossman (Adam Pally), a fictional character who was once a childhood friend of Curry. Danny attempts to reinsert himself into Curry’s life after a 25-year absence.
Although Curry plays a significant role in the series, his presence diminishes as the story unfolds. The series primarily focuses on Danny and his family, which includes his ex-wife Sam (Ayden Mayeri), his father Mitch (Tracy Letts), and his daughter Charlie (Layla Scalisi).
The show is intended as a comedy, but it features dark humor that sometimes detracts from its overall comedic value and makes the more serious moments seem out of place.
What Is ‘Mr. Throwback’ About?
Mr. Throwback presents an alternate history where Steph Curry was not the star player but rather played second fiddle to Danny, known as “Jewish Jordan,” on their middle school basketball team. Danny was once the big star, even appearing on his own Wheaties box, until it was revealed that he was actually older than he claimed.
This revelation, orchestrated by Danny’s father, who was also their coach, ruined Danny’s career and allowed Curry to rise to prominence. Now, 25 years later, Danny reappears with the hope of reconnecting with Curry and obtaining one of his jerseys to sell for $90,000 to repay a debt to the Polish mob.
When caught trying to steal Curry’s jersey, Danny fabricates a story about needing the money for his daughter’s medical bills, claiming she has a rare and undiagnosed terminal illness.
Curry decides to help Danny, hoping to improve his daughter’s quality of life and raise funds to find a cure for her mysterious illness. Kimberly (Ego Nwodim), the CEO of Curry’s production company and his close associate, is wary of Danny’s motives. She has known both Danny and Curry since childhood.
When Curry experiences a shooting slump, Danny seeks out his estranged father, Mitch, for advice on how to improve his game. As Danny’s web of lies grows, he must confront his past traumas, his issues with Mitch, and his failures as a father and husband.
Peacock’s ‘Mr. Throwback’ Is Funny When It Wants To Be
Mr. Throwback excels when it focuses on the real-life personality of Stephen Curry. As an athlete-turned-actor, Curry displays a natural ease in front of the camera and delivers an engaging performance.
He portrays a highly likable version of himself, a successful NBA superstar who is overly generous and trusting, making him vulnerable to Danny’s schemes.
Nwodim’s portrayal of Kimberly is consistently amusing, and her comedic breakdown of “Stephenomics,” a financial analysis of the Golden State Warriors’ impact on the NBA playoffs, is a standout moment in the series.
Despite the lack of significant NBA cameos, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr makes a few appearances, sharing an entertaining anecdote in Episode 3 about Michael Jordan.
The show is most entertaining when it delves into Curry’s luxurious yet high-pressure life as one of the most famous basketball players in the world. It is fun to see how regular people like Danny and Sam adapt to and exploit the perks of being part of Curry’s circle.
However, the series falters when it shifts back to the reality of Danny’s elaborate deceit, which grows more complicated as it involves more people, including his daughter.
‘Mr. Throwback’ Suffers From Tonal Inconsistencies
In the pilot episode, Danny owes nearly $100,000 to the Polish mob, but this plot point is quickly forgotten when Curry gives Danny a company credit card. The potential threat from the mob could have added real stakes to Danny’s scheme and made his character more sympathetic.
Instead, the show shifts focus to Danny’s lie about his daughter’s illness, which, despite his intention to use his newfound wealth and connections to improve her life, reveals his irresponsible behavior.
His inability to recognize and address his mistakes becomes tiresome, especially as his daughter’s conscience catches up with her, wanting to end their family’s pattern of deceit.
In the final episodes, Danny becomes more of a villain, persisting with his deception despite opposition from Sam and Charlie. When Lucy (Tien Tran), the director of a documentary about Curry, urges him to tell the truth, Danny threatens not to sign the release for the documentary, risking the footage’s use.
Danny’s addiction to the perks of being part of Curry’s inner circle and his past fame fuel his behavior. He continues his deceit, causing problems for his daughter, and it is revealed that this is not his first attempt at using her in a scam.
Mr. Throwback uses humor to address Danny’s struggle with trauma and addiction, aiming to repair his relationship with his father to prevent his daughter from facing a similar fate. Danny’s storyline with his father, marred by lies and addiction, is the most tragic aspect of the series.
Despite Danny’s apology and efforts to change, he does not forgive Mitch until Mitch takes the blame for Danny’s past deceptions. Danny eventually comes clean, and thanks to Curry’s forgiving nature, everything is resolved, setting up a possible second season.
However, the series, despite its humor, is weighed down by inconsistent tones and fails to fully address its darker themes, leaving it somewhat disheartening. Mr. Throwback is available to watch on Peacock in the U.S.
