Semi-Pro Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
The Greatest Fro on Earth
Putting the funk into the dunk.
Three men, three dreams. It's 1976 in Flint, Michigan. Jackie Moon's American Basketball Association team languishes in last place, with few fans in the seats. Jackie dreams of a merger with the NBA. A tough-minded point guard named Monix is at the end of his career; he's played on the champion Celtics but accepts a trade to Flint to be close to Lynn, the love of his life. Clarence "Coffee" Brown dreams of stardom: he's the Tropics' best player, but he's a hotdog who doesn't value teamwork. When the trio learns that a merger is in the works that won't include the Tropics, they pull the team together to try to achieve the impossible. Can dreams come true in Flint?
| Will Ferrell | Jackie Moon |
| Woody Harrelson | Monix |
| André Benjamin | Clarence Coffee Black |
| Maura Tierney | Lynn |
| DeRay Davis | Bee Bee Ellis |
| Josh Braaten | Twiggy |
| Jay Phillips | Scootise Doubleday |
| Peter Cornell | Vakidis |
| Andy Richter | Bobby Dee |
| Andrew Daly | Dick Pepperfield |
| Will Arnett | Lou Redwood |
| Kate Luyben | Staci Moon |
| David Koechner | Commish |
| Jackie Earle Haley | Dukes |
| Rob Corddry | Kyle |
| Kent Alterman |
5.70 out of 10 (21499 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Very little of the magic of TALLADEGA NIGHTS is evident here.
posted on 26 Aug 2009In SEMI-PRO, Will Farrell is the owner-manager-player for the fictional ABA franchise Flint Tropics. For those of you too young to remember the ABA (American Basketball Association), it was a rival league to the NBA that really suffered due to lack of fan support as well as having teams in amazingly small markets in many cases. Unfortunately, even for an ABA team, attendance is lousy and the players are mostly untalented losers. However, when it's announced that the league is folding and four of its premier teams are moving to the NBA, Farrell is excited when it's agreed that the four teams that have the best record will become NBA franchises. This motivates him and his hapless players into finally playing like a team and it's rather predictable that they manage to pull it all together leading up to the final "big game".In many ways, the script is quite formulaic and you know what's going to happen, but there are a few cute moments that keep it interesting. SEMI-PRO is in some ways like TALLADEGA NIGHTS and SLAPSHOT rolled into one with one major exception--it doesn't come close to either of these movies in quality or especially laughs. This really surprised me, as I was expecting a sense of humor like TALLADEGA NIGHTS, but sadly there were only a few small moments like this--scenes Will Ferrell was doing promotions for his basketball team. The best of these insane promotions was probably the bear wrestling scene. I think the biggest problem was that in TALLADEGA NIGHTS, the races weren't really that important--the humor was. In SEMI-PRO, the film seemed to bog down when they actually were playing basketball--especially since, within the rules, you can't do anything THAT crazy. I really think the film would have been better served with either less basketball or by simply throwing reality out the window during these ballgame scenes. Plus, while it sure looked like SLAPSHOT at times because of some of the fighting and a team's efforts to avoid folding, it never really went far enough regarding social commentary or the likable humor of SLAPSHOT.In addition to not quite succeeding like these other two films, SEMI-PRO was extremely vulgar--and often not in a funny way. Too many testicle jokes, crude language and vomiting references--and these were supposed to be the funny moments in the film. Sadly, the crude humor didn't work and really make this a film that is NOT child-friendly.If you are a Will Farrell fan, there's enough to this film that you'll like, so give it a shot. If you are not a Farrell fan, then this film will do nothing to convince you otherwise. My advice is see TALLADEGA NIGHTS and STRANGER THAN FICTION--two exceptional films that show Farrell has some depth and can make a real crowd-pleasing film. SEMI-PRO is a bit of a dud.FYI--Check out the trivia section on IMDb about this film. Apparently, only a short time after this film the bear used in the fighting scene actually killed someone!
People forget that Will Ferrell's movies are randomness.
posted on 22 Aug 2009So far I am the fourth person to rate this movie; and I honestly don't agree with anybody else here. I really only rate movies I truly enjoyed, and this is one of them. I don't think anybody that has seen Will's movies and disliked them should be commenting on here.This movie, along with Anchorman and Talladega Nights, is just a whole bunch of funny, cruel, and vulgar jokes thrown into a 90-minute story line...and it's awesome.Also, the fact that it's loosely based upon a real merger between the ABA and NBA fits the movie. Sports movies with fake teams and cities is getting overly boring.As many people will tell you, the unrated versions of Anchorman and Talladega Nights blow the original PG-13 rating out of the water. And for this, is why the writers had to make this movie rated R to begin with.The movie was designed for Will Ferrell. Granted, it's another sports movie with him, but he pulls it off again. Wrestling a bear, performing dance, and singing a song called 'Love Me Sexy' has absolutely nothing to do with basketball, but it works. Like I said, all his movies are a bunch of random jokes thrown together to fit a storyline.This movie, to me, is better than Talladega Nights. If you like Will Ferrell, you will LOVE this movie. If you don't like Will Ferrell, you need to get yourself checked out.
Good Movie that is funny when it tries and stupid when it tries to be serious
posted on 14 Aug 2009I hated the woody harrelson story line, his plot with the girl was like from another movie except for that funny bit about her husband coming in on them.Will Ferrell does the best he can, feels like a waste of actors, Andy could of been used much more effectively, also the team wasn't used very well they didn't say much. The two announcers stole the show for me, they were hilarious, Daly was by far the most quotable "they are doing just a horrible job at supporting his spine" or "id like a guarantee" it was a decent movie, wish they would of cut a few things with woodys character and that stupid costume dance thing was terrible, as was the puking. Wills best scenes have to be when hes introducing the characters and at the end with his speech (friend son) Wish they had spent more time with written jokes instead of stupid over the top dance numbers and forced drama story lines (leading player doubting woody and his ring). I hope someone cuts all of dalys great lines and posts them on youtube. There is 15 minutes of pure genius in this movie, 30 minutes of laughs and the rest is sorta dumb or wasted. Jive turkey...
Not Ferrell's best work, but still pretty funny
posted on 10 Aug 2009Another Will Ferrell sports movie. Sigh, right? Personally, I think the guy's funny. And I think his vehicles are funnier than most comedies being made right now. The previous one, Blades of Glory, I thought was completely undervalued. Semi-Pro, unfortunately, is a step down. It's not bad, to be sure. I laughed plenty, and I'd give it a moderate recommendation. Ferrell fans should definitely take it in. They won't be sorry they did. But there just aren't enough great jokes to make it a must-see comedy. And you know that when there aren't a ton of great jokes 90% of the good ones you've already seen in the commercials. There's a lot of half-baked material, too. I think, for instance, that Will Arnet's character was particularly hilarious, but they just don't give him enough to do. Ditto Matt Walsh, who plays a pastor moonlighting as a referee. Good jokes to be made there, but they are given a pass.
Disappointing and Mostly Unfunny
posted on 27 Jul 2009Will Ferrell stars as Jackie Moon in basketball movie Semi-Pro. Jackie Moon is the owner, coach, and star player of an ABA (American Basketball Association) team, the Flint (Michigan) Tropics.The ABA is about to go bankrupt so they decide to merge with the National Basketball Association, but there is only room for the top four teams to move to the NBA, and all of the other teams will fold. The Tropics are the worst team in the ABA so Jackie decides (so that he will still have a team) to rally his team to start winning some games. But Jackie is not a good leader and not even close to a "star player", in fact he only plays because he owns the team, which he bought with the money he earned from recording a fluke hit song. He decides to bring in a washed-up NBA player (Woody Harrelson) to hopefully help his team make it into the playoffs and finish fourth.It sounds like a good premise and I'm a big Will Ferrell movie fan so I was expecting a lot but this movie didn't deliver. There are a couple of good jokes and typical Will Ferrell physical comedy but overall it was flat and disappointing. If you're a big Ferrell fan it's still worth seeing but I wouldn't recommend paying for it.
Needs more Doctor J
posted on 23 Jul 2009One of the joys of being a university student is getting invited to free sneak previews. I went to one last night, where the front half of the theater was packed with students while the back was filled with members of the writing team, taking careful notes on which jokes we did and did not laugh at. For the most part, the reaction was positive, and the jokes that failed miserably will probably get edited out by the time the movie officially opens.The movie was pretty sports-comedy formulaic, with the down-and-out lovable losers getting a big chance, then introducing a new character who will inspire them, and a few montages later, the big finale. The R-rating was used mainly on adding in lots of cuss-words, with mixed humorous results. There was a really funny joke about masturbation. I was hoping for a little more basketball craziness, but oh well. The highlight, of course, was Will Ferrel meeting the 70s. I myself was not alive in the 70s, so I only know about the culture through the disco-funk lens of caricature cinema. Ferrel is one funky mofo so he thrives. I would say this was one of his better efforts, topping Taladega nights, Elf, and the ice skating one. It's not as good as Anchorman, mainly because it's just not as quotable. In short, if you like Will Ferrel, or 70s funk (the soundtrack is hella dope), see this movie.
Will Ferrell is on top form / shame about the movie though
posted on 19 Jul 2009the first 30mins of this movie is as good as anchorman i mean i was laughing out loud in the cinema. after that it goes down hill though i don't think will ferrell is to blame. while anchorman and dodgeball had a great supporting cast of characters semi pro only has will ferrell and the two commentators that raise a laugh.many jokes didn't work for me because of the subject matter (i don't know much about basketball) and the sex scene falls flat on it's face and is embarrassing to watch. the jive turkey scene i didn't get and when will ferrell is off the screen the film starts to take it self too seriously and you're just wanting will to come back on the screen and do something funny.will ferrell is on top form in this movie but a lot more could have been made of his character. the premise of a washed up singer spending ridiculous amounts of money is a good idea, but is stuck in a sports movie were the loser team comes good in the end. we've seen so many times before and sadley done better.i love will ferrell but i can see why he has so many haters. while i think he'll never better anchorman semi pro and blades of glory for me show a decline and his next film needs to be a step in the right direction.
Just Another Sports Comedy with Too Little of Will Ferrell
posted on 17 Jul 2009Will Ferrell's fourth and latest sports spoof comedy "Semi-Pro" (**1/2 stars out of ****) is semi-delusional. For the record, it's not in the same league with his NASCAR comedy "Talladega Nights." The former Saturday Night Live comedian stars here as one-shot disco music singer Jackie Moon who bought his hometown basketball team with the bucks that he earned from his Barry White-style, one hit wonder, chart-topping single "Love Me Sexy." Not only does Jackie own the Tropics of Flint, Michigan, but he also plays on, coaches, and promotes the team! "Semi-Pro" takes place in the nonconformist 1970s, and the fictional Tropics compete in the former real-life American Baseball Association (1967-1976) with its trademark red, white, & blue basketball and its 3-point shot. Clearly, this nostalgic, occasionally amusing basketball farce aspired to be for hoops movies what the legendary Paul Newman classic "Slapshot" was for ice hockey and the Tom Berenger farce "Major League" was for baseball. Mind you, the pranks, the pratfalls, and the humor are quintessential Will Ferrell when he is front and center, but Ferrell isn't always front and center, and the movie lacks the non-stop, over-the-top comic buffoonery of "Talladega Nights." "Semi-Pro" devotes more time to sincerity than frivolity. Half of this dribbling comedy focuses on straight man Woody Harrelson. An aged NBA, Boston Celtics champ, Monix (Woody Harrelson of "White Men Can't Jump") joins the team after Jackie trades the Tropics' ailing washing machine for him. As it turns out, the ABA is tottering on its last legs, and ABA Commissioner (David Koechner of the far funnier sports spoof "The Comebacks") and the other team owners have struck a lucrative deal to have four of their teams absorbed into the NBA. The remaining teams, including Jackie's Tropics, are scheduled to disband. Jackie goes ballistic at this dire prospect. Somehow, our hero with an Afro hairstyle convinces his fellow owners that only the best four teams should be absorbed. Actually, this happened in real-life. Unfortunately, Jackie later learns that each team must attract at least two thousand spectators for each home game. In an effort to improve the Tropics, Jackie trades for Monix. Monix spent his championship season with the Celtics, but he warmed the bench more often than shot hoops. Nevertheless, Monix sincerely wants to turn the Tropics around and make them into winners. Anybody remember the warm-hearting Gene Hackman movie "The Hoosiers?" Ultimately, this last hurrah for the underdogs that must win a championship game is standard, second-rate stuff that has been done too many times. Indeed, "Semi-Pro" surpasses "Kicking and Screaming," "Melinda and Melinda," and "Bewitched," but that provides little consolation.An executive producer on "Balls of Fury" and "Mr. Woodcock," freshman director Ken Alterman and "Old School" scenarist Scot Armstrong slum for laughs in their raunchy, foul-mouthed, R-rated, 93 minute, boys-night-out bash. They have intrepid Jackie Moon pulling an idiotic Evel Knievel-style ramp jump with roller skaters over his team's foxy string of cheerleaders strung out head-to-toe on their backs across the court. Since the players cannot fight on the court during the game, Jackie has his guys slug it out with the other team during commercial breaks. At one point, Jackie promises to feed everybody at a home game a Corndog if the Tropics score over 125 points. They do and Jackie bails. Ultimately, in an effort to sell out his stadium, Jackie wrestles with a brown bear. Although the bear escapes, the woodland beast becomes "Semi-Pro's" best running joke as it strikes without warning.Sadly, Alterman and Armstrong treat Ferrell as if he were a guest star. "Semi-Pro" relies more on half-hearted sight gags and the suspenseful but formulaic big-game-to-win showdown than the inspired lunacy that is Will Ferrell. Unfortunately, Ferrell shares the spotlight with Harrelson, and Harrelson gets a subplot with an old girlfriend and a romance. Surprisingly, "Semi-Pro" doesn't stoop to the standard kick in the groin for chuckles or any examples of juvenile bowel humor. The dumbest scene has Monix teaching the Tropics how to run a play until they puke. Incredibly, Jackie has never puked in his entire life. Monix punches him in the belly, and Jackie chucks everything, but not on camera. Altogether, this lukewarm sports comedy scores more chuckles than sensational, side-splitting laughs. Sure, you'll smile and sputter, but you won't be roaring at anything fresh or original.
Semi-entertaining
posted on 05 Jul 2009"Semi-Pro" is the story of a team in the old ABA. The ABA was a basketball league formed in the 60s to be a competition for the NBA. The league existed from 1967 to 1976 until they could no longer exist and they had to merge with the NBA. Now we have a movie not about the league or its history but about a movie about a team in the waning days of the league. But basically it's just a sport movie and not even a very good one.Outright the movie tries to elicit laughter by having the team we're supposed to follow be called the 'Tropics' from cold northern Flint, Michigan. The team is owned and coach by one of the players Jackie Moon (Wil Ferrell). The 'Tropics' are a miserable team and Jackie is a miserable coach. He would stop play in the middle of the game to chastise a fan for bringing his own food into the stadium. What he is is a great promoter or better yet a great self- promoter. He opens the game singing his one hit song. He's also a deluded guy who thinks that he can take his team to the NBA when the two leagues merge. The movie really doesn't even try to be a real sport movie instead it tend to be a showcase for Jackie Moon's idiocy. In other words it show case Wil Ferrell doing idiotic stuff and call it comedy. When the teams are told that they are going to need to increase their attendance in order to be considered for the merger. Jackie comes up with all kind of crazy things including wrestling a bear for halftime entertainment. It's like in some other Wil Ferrell films, the film stop the regular narrative and watch him do things that are supposed to be funny. I'm going to say it, HE ISN'T. He's just like all the other Saturday Night Live actors, they're not very good actors and I find most of their presence in movies a bit of a mockery.The one good thing about this movie is the Woody Harrelson character. He's an old pro who has been to the NBA and actually have a championship ring. Not only does he teach the team how to play the game properly and actually start winning, he has a decent romance with his ex-wife (Maura Tierney). but then this part of the movie has that done that been there feeling. But it's still better than the rest of the movie.Personally I think the ABA deserves a better treatment than what it got from this film. In some ways it revolutionized Pro Basketball. They came up with the 3 point shot, they allowed the freewheeling streetball style offense, (back in the day an NBA player showboating is going to get chastised by the coach, the ABA just let it go). If women's baseball can get "A League of Their Own" why does the ABA have to be stuck with this?
And I thought it was actually going to be funny.
posted on 01 Jul 2009For the most part, I like Will Ferrell's comedy. I really do. I loved Talladega Nights, to be honest. I laughed throughout the whole thing. I had expected this to be a good bounce-back from Blades of Glory. I prayed that Mr. Ferrell just happened to make a flop and was back to making good movies. I was wrong.I felt the plot itself was solid--I really like it as a non-comedic movie. But it insists on itself--it just begs to be laughed at. The problem with that is that it insists in all the wrong ways. For example, Shaun of the Dead is one of my all-time favorites, mostly because of the fact that it is a rather serious subject with scenes that could be seen as horrific and yet maintains to be laugh-out-loud hilarious every time I watch it. It insists on being a good movie, not on getting you to laugh at cheap jokes. That's where Semi-Pro went wrong. You have to either be ridiculous with a handful of serious elements (ala The Big Lebowski) or serious with a handful of comedic elements (ala Shaun of the Dead). Semi-Pro doesn't fit into either, because it's not good enough in either one of those categories.I probably only laughed out loud maybe three or four times throughout the whole movie, and more out of a response to pure nonsense than actual comedic value. Like, "....what?!" rather than a response to pure hilarity. I am reminded of the "I'm on fire!" scene from Talladega Nights--hilarity. Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous--you just couldn't NOT laugh at it. This movie attempts to achieve the same ludicrous hilarity that Talladega Nights had...and fails miserably.If you're a huge fan of Will Ferrell's comedy, or just Will Ferrell in general, then you may like this. Again, don't get me wrong, it's not a horrible movie, but don't expect anything epic. Unless, of course, you expect an epic fail, in which case you may be pleased.So overall: decent movie, good storyline, great cast, horrible jokes and even worse comedic value lands it a 5 out of 10.
Simply irritating
posted on 23 Jun 2009I enjoyed pretty much Will Ferrell's style of comedy when he was in Saturday Night Live.But,now,I have seen his style of humor so many times that I'm tired of it and I do not like it anymore.Well,that's what happened to me with Semi-Pro.This comedy really irritated me and,with one or two exceptions,it did not make me laugh at all.There is a serious problem when a comedy does not make me laugh.I think the gags fail because we have already seen them too many times,on the TV or in movies.The gags are completely unoriginal and they did not have even a pinch of intelligence.Ferrell makes the same character as always : a man with more enthusiasm than common sense and without any shame.I think he has talent so he should do something different.Woody Harrelson and Jackie Earle Haley are brilliant actors but they do not have much to do,so they are completely wasted in here.The worst fail from this movie is that it bored me pretty much and I wanted it to end.That's the worst thing a movie can provoke.Semi-Pro is a mediocre,irritating and boring comedy which wastes talented people.I do not recommend it.
Funny enough at times, but contains way too many random moments
posted on 19 Jun 2009Will Ferrell returns (like he ever left) with another slapstick comedy. . . 'Semi-Pro,' the story of an ABA basketball team, the Flint Tropics, fighting to be accepted into the NBA.The cast is fantastic. . . Woody Harrelson plays the newly traded point guard Monix, André Benjamin of Outkast plays the star of the team Clarence 'Coffee' Black, and Will Ferrell plays the coach, owner, promoter, power forward, and choreographer Jackie Moon. Also making an appearance are Maura Tierney (ER) as the former love interest of Monix; Will Arnett (Arrested Development) as the colour commentator; Andy Richter (Late Night with Conan O'Brien) as. . . Jackie's son-friend; Ed Helms (The Office) as Turtleneck; and David Koechner (Anchorman) as the Commissioner.The film itself, however. . . well, there are some problems. Many scenes (including one about vomit, one with a burnt out hippie winning $10,000, etc.) seem unnecessary and out of place seeing as most of them have almost no 'bear'ing (you'll get it later) on the plot whatsoever.Also, while I have nothing against swearing and am completely against censourship. . . the 'foul language' in this film just seems forced and only added to give itself an R rating. Other than a brief (and non-nude) sex scene, there's nothing else at all that would've warranted its R rating. Maybe it was a marketing move (thinking an R would get them more in the box office after all the hate for PG-13 ), or maybe it's just annoying writing by Scot Armstrong whose only PG-13 films (School for Scoundrels and Starsky and Hutch) are pretty awful. Either way, it didn't seem worth it.Anyway, the film itself is entertaining, but unoriginal. There's nothing really special about it, but it's still a funny comedy worth checking out if that's what you're in the mood for.Final Verdict: 6/10.Postscript: No. . . as some people are saying about this. . . the 'alley oop' bit at the end. . . it's not true.-AP3-
Warning-Do Not See
posted on 19 Jun 2009Went into the movie expecting to see a great Will Ferrell movie. Came out VERY disappointed. The absolute worst movie I have seen. Highly advised not to watch. If you like Will Ferrell, still do not watch. He only has a few funny lines in this movie, other than that this movie sucks. I am actually very angered that I wasted my time and my money on this movie. Practically fell asleep after the first 12 minutes of the movie. Pretty much the same stuff as the trailer. Do Not Watch. Go do something better with your weekend rather than watch this movie. You will be very disappointed with the lack of comedy in the movie as I, along with the whole theater, only laughed about 5 times maximum throughout the movie.
What does disliking liking something and commenting on it a bad concept?
posted on 15 Jun 2009Someone recently said, "I don't think anybody that has seen Will's movies and disliked them should be commenting on here." That is nonsense. Apparently, this person has a love of Will Ferrell's movies. This fact makes the person who said the above statement biased. Ferrell's films are all the same --- even using many of the same casts --- and Ferrell plays the same character continuously. This concept soon becomes evident as with previous goof-balls such as Jim Carrey. . . I neither hate nor love Ferrell's film, but I do know when I am watching a quality film. Just because you like something, does not make it good! No offense to all the people who will dislike this statement. On the other hand, the dislike of something does not mean it is not a bit information with quality. if had to grade this film as A, B, C, D or F, "Semi-pro" would be a "C."
Don't waste your time
posted on 24 May 2009This movie to me was just another Will Ferrel movie where he tries to carry the whole thing and it falls..hard. I only laughed at one part in this entire movie, and the rest me and my girlfriend just watched in amazement at how truly stupid a movie can be. The reason I gave it a 4 was because it wasn't the worst movie I've ever seen but I wouldn't even give it a mediocre rating. Will Ferell was trying way to hard in this movie to be funny just like he has in the past..and 4/5 it comes to bite him in the butt. This movie really did have the potential to be decent but the storyline, comedic elements, and f word got old really quick for me and my girlfriend and I regretted watching the movie after many of my friends told me not to watch it I went along with it on instinct and lost money and fun time to spend with my girlfriend.
Unbearable
posted on 24 May 2009I WAS a fan of Ferrel, but it's unbelievable how many scenarios/movies this 'character' can do over and over again.. and people still pay to see it. Same incredibly predictable plot as most of the previous. Tedious, redundant, painfully boring. Will, stop making these movies dude. If you are 12 or have an IQ of 12 it's a great flick. The Movie Itself Was Bad Not The Cast. But This Was Will Ferrel's Worst Movie Ever!! A Night At The Roxbury, Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Blades Of Glory They Were All Good Movies But This Will Hang In In His Hall Of Shame For The Ages Until I Decide To Remove It.So A little Word Of Advice: Avoid This Movie!!! Semi-Pro 1/10
McCheesy's take on "Semi-Pro"
posted on 18 May 2009Will Ferrell is one of the funniest man in Hollywood and his latest film Semi Pro is a funny film despite what the critics say. I still consider it funny as hell. There were a bunch laugh out loud scenes. It was all outrageous and his character Jackie Moon is the epitome of idiocy.Woody Harrelson was a nice touch. Its good to see him in comedic roles, I think I last saw him in the Coen's gritty "No Country". Its a breath of fresh air for him.The funniest scene is the "Jive Turkey" thing. I might not have understood the joke but the way it was delivered, man it will make you laugh.7.
A Nutshell Review: Semi-Pro
posted on 18 May 2009Will Ferrell continues with sports theme comedies with Semi-Pro, a throwback to the 70s where the American Basketball Association (ABA) is merged in part with the National Basketball Association (NBA) which we are all quite familiar with. With his Talladega Nights on Nascar racing and Blades of Glory on ice figure skating, if I were to rank his latest effort amongst the three, unfortunately it will be ranked the last.Talladega Nights really cracked me up, and there were many moments where I laughed until my tears became uncontrollable - that's the personal gauge I use for comedies just in case you want to know. With Blades of Glory, it gets a little tired with his selfish character trying to go one up against his closest rival, which sort of degenerated into dramatic fare of brotherhood and friendship. With Semi-Pro, he continues with this character trait of cockiness (yes, it does get very tired after a while) as owner-coach-player of a fictional ABA team known as the Flint Tropics.As the story goes, the ABA is into its final season because of the impending merger with the NBA, and the top 4 teams will get absorbed into the NBA, while the rest will have to be dissolved. So it's up to Ferrell's Jackie Moon to motivate his team, and to wheel and deal with the operational aspects of the game like boosting dwindling attendances and designing gimmicks, to keep their hopes alive. Having an incompetent team, save for star player Clarence "Coffee" Black (Andre Benjamin from Outkast), means that realistically they're no- hopers for the top 4 spots, at least not until Jackie trades a washing machine (don't ask) for an NBA player Monix (Woody Harrelson), who comes in to impart some of his elite knowledge of the game, despite being unpopular at first, and even causing a Actually, I thought that comedy was quite secondary in Semi-Pro. What it did have however are attention to detail on the differences between the ABA and the NBA leagues, starting with the multi-colored ball used. Half-time entertainment, courtesy of Jackie Moon, seemed very tired, with the best bits already included in the trailer. Other than that, the movie's quite bogged down by Harrelson's role in holding a candle for an ex-flame, which unfortunately didn't get past the censors scissors.But credit be given though to 2 things in the movie. One, a scene where the major players are seated around a table gambling, and involving a revolver, which does take a heck of its own sweet time to get to the point and deliver its punchline which somewhat fizzled. The other, is the totally inane song Love Me Sexy. Without these two elements, Semi-Pro really deserves to be relegated.
Disappointing Ferrell sports comedy
posted on 18 May 2009SEMI-PRO (2008) ** Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin, Maura Tierney, Andrew Daly, Will Arnett, Andy Richter, David Koechner, Rob Corddry, Matt Walsh, Jackie Earle Haley, Tim Meadows, DeRay Davis, Josh Braaten, Jay Phillips, Peter Cornell, Jason Sudeikis, Kristen Wiig, Ed Helms. More miss-than-hit send-up of basketball films comedy with Ferrell getting his ya-yas out in a ridiculous 'fro as Jackie Moon, a player/coach of the ill-fated ABA Flint Michigan Tropics who face their potentially last season after an announcement of the league ceding with, and the attempts by Moon to get his team into fourth place to gain access to NBA glory. The lackadaisical direction by Kent Alterman and an unnecessarily vulgar screenplay by Scot Armstrong only hinder a few strained laughs and a game ensemble of some of comedy's best-unsung performers.
Pretty Darn Funny
posted on 30 Aug 2009I really can't stand the site of Will Farrell, and I usually find him anything but funny. I hated Ron Burgundy and thought Elf was trite, but i have to say I pretty much laughed my way throughout this entire movie.It was made as a comedy, which it excels at being, but it is also a really good period piece on the 70's (love the fro's). The story was also really good, a bit predictable but well done - I found myself caring about the characters and the out come of the story.I was entertained throughout this entire movie, and i would add this movie amongst other American comedy classics such as Family Vacation, Uncle Buck or even Planes, Trains and Automobiles... all very different movies, but ones that made us laugh and kept us smiling.