Semi Pro Review
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The General Idea
Plot synopsis from IMDB: Jackie Moon, the owner-coach-player of the American Basketball Association’s Flint Michigan Tropics, rallies his teammates to make their NBA dreams come true
The Good
Tim Meadows isn’t in Semi Pro much, but the strongest scene in the film features him and this is no accident. He is an outstanding comedic performer with amazing timing and when he is on the screen - laughter happens. It was great to see him and Will working together again and I certainly hope for more team ups in the future.
The sports commentators in this film Dick Pepperfield (Andrew Daly) and Lou Redwood (Will Arnett) have quite a bit of dialogue both on and off the court. You would think that the movie would have suffered for it, but the opposite was true. When either of these characters are on the screen, the film is funny and enjoyable. Arnett and Daly had fantastic chemistry and they both fit their characters like a glove. To be honest, if Semi Pro was a film about sports commentators and focused on these two; the movie would have been much, much better. These characters were the pillars holding the film together and without them it would have been a total write off.
Jackie Moon surprisingly does not have a lot of stand alone screen time. We do not get many solo moments with Jackie so we don’t learn much about him, and it’s just as well; the character is forgettable and I would argue the worst Will Ferrell incarnation to date. He was a profane man however and it made for some hilarious moments. Will usually keeps the language fairly clean so it was a bit shocking to see him slinging f-bombs in peoples’ faces. The audience always laughed when he got crass and it was a nice surprise. I just wish this card would have been used with a better character, in a better film
The Bad
Monix (Woody Harrelson) plays the hero of this film and is also the love interest in a bullshit romantic sub-plot. The film is more about Monix than Jakie Moon, which could have been fine - if Monix was humorous. When a focus character isn’t funny in a comedy; something has gone horribly wrong. Woody was great in Kingpin and it’s a shame that Semi Pro ignored and his comedic ability. Monixr was a flat out buzzkill and every time he is on the screen - the film becomes lameland.
The story for this film sucked, It was formulaic, unfunny and spent time trying to provide life lessons in a glossed over, piss-poor manner. Some scenes were quite funny and that will happen when you have a cast like this; but the overall story still needs to be humorous - this was not the case with Semi Pro. This film was the bastard son of a shitty sports film and a mediocre comedy. With the talent they had on board, it’s a god damn shame this film was anything less than outstanding.
Overall
With the little that these actors had to work with, they still managed to get some pretty decent laughs, and some scenes were great. It is for a handful of scenes that I will recommend this film. Andrew Daly And Will Arnett are largely responsible for tipping the scale and they should be proud of what they accomplished. This is my least favorite Wil Ferrell comedy to date, so it has the distinction of being #1 on that list. Out of 10 I will give Semi Pro a 5 and if you are not chopping at the bit to see it; wait for the rental.
25 Comments, Comment or Ping
Orren Jensen
Have no desire to see this film. I had my fix of Will Ferrell two Will Ferrell movies ago. It is the same old boring stuff. His next film will most likely be a parody of a sport s movie were he plays “himself” as an old SNL character. Movies I liked with him in are as followed: A Night at the Roxbury (1998), Elf (2003), Stranger Than Fiction (2006). That’s about it, everything else is just him playing one of his SNL characters. It could be argued that the only SNL characters that worked out in a movie were Wayne’s World. If you like Will Ferrell go ahead and watch it but I am saying not watch it.
Mar 1st, 2008
Jeff H
Well, i would like to put a poll out there to see if there are any other sports characters will hasnt played? i suppose he could try baseball and football. just rewrite some lines and there you have it, a new will ferrell movie! make him a drunk minor league manager or something. or maybe a highschool wrestling coach? i guess thats my point. he is going to keep making these as long as we keep going to the theatre! so….if you want to see him do something different, stop watching him in these movies. I think they are funny, so i go, i am also not bitching about him doing the same thing over and over again. We know what to expect and we like it. hence the reason we are going to watch. i dont think anyone is going to this movie hoping that its going to be the next hoosiers.
its funny that people are “tired” of the same old schtick, but the same people will rip into an actor who takes a risky role and it doesnt go well. then its, stick to what you know. Well, Will Ferrell is doing that and guess what? He is a very rich man in hollywood who isnt searching for his next role, they are all looking for him. So pick your poison people, do you want him to do what he knows best or take a risk and mess up his career?
Let the hating commence.
Mar 1st, 2008
Kristina
Hate to say I told you so.
Mar 1st, 2008
nbakid2000
This was the only Ferrell movie that looked good to me since Roxbury. I will hold off judgment until I see it.
Mar 1st, 2008
chris (the real one)
just saw it…huge farrell fan, i loved anchorman, comedy classic…but this was pretty disappointing…dougs review was spot on, it had laughs but not that many and some jokes fell flat….solid 5 out of 10…come on will u can do better
Mar 1st, 2008
Roland
Well honestly, Ferrell’s got a bit of the Bill Murray/Dan Aykroyd *past one’s funny era* type of problem. Really, since ‘Groundhog Day’, Bill Murray hasn’t been making funny films.
This movie was a bit like that and for one, I didn’t find the post traumatic Vietnam vet with the whole gun (Deer Hunter/Russian Roulette) slapstick to be funny at all. It was actually disturbing considering that we’re in a current day guerrilla war situation with a lot of vets feeling exactly the same way.
Mar 2nd, 2008
DnT
It was better than I thought it would be, but maybe I’m just easily entertained. :(
Mar 2nd, 2008
isuflank
This movie was a waste of my time and money. Not so much funny, the plot was dumb and the actors must have been desperate for a role. We walked out before it was over, along with about 5 other people.
Mar 2nd, 2008
isuflank
This movie was a waste of my time and money. Not so much funny, the plot was dumb and the actors must have been desperate for a role. We walked out before it was over, along with about 5 other people.
Mar 2nd, 2008
flommer
This movie was very funny, and if you don’t like it you can s my c.
Mar 2nd, 2008
McCoy
Hey Jensen, Night at the Roxbury is based on an SNL skit. Do you have all three types of retardation or something?
Mar 2nd, 2008
JMOvechkin
Jensen, you are a class five super tool. You obviously have no base for your argument so thanks for wasting space atop the comments. You just as well could have said, I hate movies based on comic books, the only movies I like are Batman and The Flash. We are all dumber now that you have posted, I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul.
Mar 3rd, 2008
Dog Mouth
I just saw this movie on Saturday. It’s Will Ferrell’s best film since Anchorman (with the possible exception of Kicking and Screaming, if you enjoy a more realistic plot). The movie is a weird combination of Kingpin, Anchorman, and Slapshot (old Paul Newman film) for obvious reasons (that I shouldn’t have to go into here). All in all, if you enjoyed Anchorman, but thought Blades of Glory and Talladega Nights were only so-so, I’d consider giving Semi-Pro a shot. For me, Will Ferrell got it right once again.
Mar 3rd, 2008
Fred
A Night at the Roxbury was from SNL Oren.
Mar 3rd, 2008
Tom
You can already watch it online here:
http://mediateevee.com/showCat2.php?vid=8655&cid=1
Mar 4th, 2008
David
Well I really enjoy watching Will in all of his movies. I really thought Blades of Glory was brilliant. That was a great story so it was packed full of laughs. This on the other hand I thought was terrible it was weak and there were few laughs. I am really surprised that this made it to the big screen. Very dissapointed.
Mar 6th, 2008
affy
That movie was funny! No, it wasn’t the most creative plot or sub-plot. But I laughed so hard and frequently. It was good to see the Ferrell movie “regulars” as well as some unexpected cast members. I thought his Jackie Moon character was just built for laughs, and much more humorous than, let’s say the Anchorman character. This was my favorite Will Ferrell movie! I cried laughing, several times. I would actually see it again, with some goofy siblings just to maximize the fun. It’s not a must see, but you’ll walk out of the theater smiling.
Mar 6th, 2008
I love meat
I absolutely agree that Semi-Pro is more like Anchorman than any of the other movies Ferrell’s done recently. Blades and Talladega were iffy to me… good, but not great. Kinda funny here and there, but nothing I spent any time talking about the next day or thereafter. A big problem with both of them was the casting. Neither John C. Reilly nor Jon Heder really did anything for me… at all. Semi-Pro is successful in really correcting that error. The cast is incredible, top to bottom. [I loved the older, more serious broadcaster (Dick Pepperfield), played by Andrew Daly!] More importantly, the movie, overall, was just ballsier than either of the aforementioned two. Unlike Blades or Talladega, it continued to blow my mind in a way only Anchorman had previously done. In all, it felt like Ferrell simply decided to take off the kids gloves and do something he could be truly proud of.
Mar 10th, 2008
mike genochio
After reading the bolgs on Semi-Pro.The lastest Will Ferrell movie,I am convinced that Amercia is brain dead. Will Ferrell movies are dumb,stupid and pain to watch. All his movies are the same, same plot, same jokes the same Will Ferrell movie. Anchorman funny,I seen funnier anchormen on CNN News. To all who saw Semi-Pro and thought it was funny. Get a life, because your must be a joke
Mar 21st, 2008
Hirazuki
Another year and a new Will Ferrell movie. He’s first for this year and will it live up to he’s best films or crash and burn like Blades of Glory. The answer is simple. It BURNS big time. Why is it so bad I think it’s because we are sick of him and this type of movie. With more like this being released every year Iam personally getting sick of them. And that is probably why I didn’t like this because it’s the same movie as Blades of glory just with a different spot. 2 out of 5 from me.
Mar 23rd, 2008
Movie Links
Boring movie!
Good thing I’ve watched it online…
Mar 25th, 2008
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Mar 25th, 2008
henry
look mike genochio, why don’t you get a life, instead of comin on here and criticising everyone because they like something that you dont?theres a difference between having an opinion and being an arsehole
Apr 3rd, 2008
Koko
Not sure anyone will read this post considering this story is so old, but I finally went to see semi pro tonight (it only opened in Australia today) and it was definately a a 5 out of 10.
I’ve been a big Ferrell believer regarding the fact that his schtick isn’t getting old and it doesn’t bother me that he is playing that dumb lovable character in every flick. Honestly, it didn’t bother me in the flick either, but for gods sake start picking better projects!
This is a man with Judd Apatow at his fingertips, why he doesn’t work with him more often surprises me. Bringing out shit like Semi-Pro, Blades of Glory and Kicking and Screaming … All minus ‘The Judd”..
Ferrell needs to sit down and brainstorm with Judd and get something great for his next project … Although, Step Brothers looks ok.
Stop ignoring Judd.
Apr 3rd, 2008
rick
I like the movie: http://scratchdisc.com/www/2008/07/09/movie-semi-pro-2008/
Jul 10th, 2008
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