Running Point mixes family dysfunction, basketball-business chaos and a fish-out-of-water comedy. Familiar conflicts do not prevent it from being quick, smart and entertaining.
Kate Hudson plays Isla Gordon, unexpectedly in charge of the fictional Los Angeles Waves. She has to establish herself in a male-dominated world while facing skeptical players, managers and her own family's expectations.
Hudson gives Isla charm without making her infallible. Mistakes and self-doubt are part of learning to lead. Her exchanges with the coach provide some of the strongest scenes, mixing his frustration with her determination.
The Gordon family supplies sharp comedy. Justin Theroux's Cam has the narcissistic charm of a wealthy playboy, while Drew Tarver and Scott MacArthur contribute competing ambition and insecurity. Their sibling conversations can be funny and cutting, with old wounds underneath.
The direction gives the opening a dynamic, credible look. Basketball is more than a backdrop, and the scripts find humor in both the sport and the business around it. Some jokes are foreseeable, and the wealthy-but-incompetent pattern can feel routine.
A few supporting characters and storylines would benefit from more depth. Even so, Hudson and the ensemble's chemistry keep the series moving. It offers enough personality for viewers who do not follow basketball, while sports fans can enjoy the details. An appealing look at a costly business run by very imperfect people.
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