'Semi-Pro' is only semifunny
Will Ferrell offers another variation on standard goofy role
Appropriately enough, "Semi-Pro" lives up to half of its title. That would be the "semi" part.
This '70s-period sports comedy is only funny about half of the time and seems like an uneasy film hybrid. Half the time it's trying to be a Will Ferrell vehicle, and half the time it's trying to rip off of earlier, better movies such as "Slap Shot," "The Bad News Bears" and "The Longest Yard."
And as you'd expect, it feels a little half-hearted as a result.
Ferrell stars as Jackie Moon, the owner, coach and one of the star players for the spectacularly unsuccessful Flint (Mich.) Tropics basketball team in the American Basketball Association.
Jackie is busy thinking up new promotional gimmicks and doesn't seem too concerned about fielding a winning team.
But he has reason to reconsider his priorities when the league commissioner (David Koechner) announces that the league will fold at the end of the year. The ABA's top four teams will be "absorbed" into the bigger, better National Basketball Association, though, which gives Jackie a glimmer of hope.
So he trades to acquire a point guard, Ed Monix (Woody Harrelson), who's actually been on a championship team and who believes in things like scrimmaging and practices. And eventually, the rest of the team does respond to Ed's coaching.
First-time director Kent Alterman and screenwriter Scot Armstrong can't decide on a consistent tone.
To be fair, though, a couple of bits do get some big laughs, especially a scene in which Jackie plans to wrestle a bear. ("Saturday Night Live" performer Kristen Wiig nearly upstages Ferrell here.)
And Harrelson does have a strong sports movie pedigree, having been in "White Men Can't Jump." But he's a too-serious presence for a movie that settles for being likable and goofy.
Worse, he's often forced to rein in Ferrell, who's simply playing another variation on the doofus he portrayed in his earlier hits "Anchorman" and "Talladega Nights."
"Semi-Pro" is rated R for strong sexual language (profanity, crude slang and other suggestive talk), comic violence (sports brawling, rioting and animal wrestling), vulgar sexual humor, a brief sex scene, drug references, slurs based on disabilities, and brief gore. Running time: 91 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com
Comments
- 5 hurt in latest Pamplona bull run 8:49 a.m.
- Delay in Jackson guardianship case 8:47 a.m.
- Attempted murder case refiled 1:58 a.m.
- Sports on the air 1:38 a.m.
- This weekend on TV 1:38 a.m.
- Birthdays for Saturday, July 11 1:38 a.m.
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza 1:37 a.m.
- Man spots his stolen car 1:23 a.m.
- Girl critical after run-in with train 1:23 a.m.
- Death investigated as slaying 1:22 a.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Cash for Clunkers to get rolling soon
- Utahns among Texans' investors
- Teacher faces new sex charges
- Man spots his stolen car
- LDS seminary principal arrested
160 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
99 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
72 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
There were some errors in the reporting of the University of Utah's...
I love Millsap, and the Jazz will find a way to move Boozer and match for...
i think its childish to assume that somebody would actually want to get...
Millsap and Boozer need to stay in Utah. Millsap is Boozers backup while he...
Childish and immature? Its always easier being ignorant and presuming things...
can you use words like testimony and church leadership to critisize a...
Bro P really helped me through a tough time in my life when I had him in...
These are only allegations at present, but I hope when he goes to trial, the...
My thoughts are with the Pratt family right now. Michael I hope you are...
It is interesting that everyone who seems to be a member comments on how nice...
You presume, simply because they were gay, that they were trying to "stir...




You can be the first to comment on this story.