Semi-Pro: All Dribble No Score....

Derek Fleek
"Semi-Pro" stars slapstick comedian Will Ferrell and features a supporting cast that include Woody Harrelson, Will Arnet, Andre Benjamin, and Rob Corddry. This is the directorial debut for Kent Alterman, who was the Executive Producer of "Elf", and written by Scot Armstrong (Road Trip, Old School).

"Semi-Pro" centers on the crowd pleaser Jackie Moon (Will Ferrell), a well out-of-shape basketball player that resorts to ridiculous stunts to fill in the unoccupied bleachers. After being told that the NBA plans to merge the top four best teams in the ABA at the end of the season into the NBA, Jackie Moon and his team have to dig their way out of last place in order to become an NBA team.

This is typical Will Ferrell, blurting out obscenities and humiliating himself once again. Some of the scenes end up being fairly funny (although most of these scenes are played out). Woody Harrelson is surprisingly humorless here. Whats wrong with "Semi-Pro" is that it all feels like a Will Ferrell re-run, basically using the same tired material that's been evident in his previous films, such as "Anchorman" and "Talladega Nights".

The basketball scenes are shot poorly. Will Ferrell tries his hardest here, (as always) but falls short of creating a memorable comedy. Just seconds after watching it, I forgot the funny parts. The second-rate editing was what really ruined the comedic timing of the jokes. I was never really a fan of Will Ferrell, but after "Blades of Glory", I thought I would give "Semi-Pro" a chance. I should've just avoided it. Why doesn't it take me by surprise that Andre Benjamin was funnier than Will Ferrell? Maybe it's because Will Ferrell is the same as always here, bringing nothing new to the table.

Skip it. The ending was predictable and completely inane. The first half of the movie is semi funny, but it's not long after all of this becomes exhausting. This is a pretty decent directorial debut, but i was expecting more from a guy who has previous experience in movies, being a executive producer and all. My suggestion to Will Ferrell is to stop making sports comedies, they are getting old. Semi-Pro is semi-gray. 2/5 stars

Published by Derek Fleek

Full time movie critic  View profile

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  • JayJay3/21/2008

    I walked out so I didn't even watch the end...that's how bad I thought this movie was.

  • Wes Laurie3/9/2008

    Yep...was pretty much crap

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