Semi Pro (2008)

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.

Jess’ Review

As you may already know, Sam is a huge fan of Will Ferrell, and feeling like we were in need of a little pick-me-up, we watched an old classic. Semi-Pro isn’t the film that comes to mind when I think of Ferrell, but he’s in his element in this wacky sports comedy. And I know that both Sam and I will get some laughs out of it without having to invest in a heavy plot line. It’s a silly film, for a lazy watch and a few chuckles.

Semi Pro is the story of eccentric owner/coach/basketball star Jackie Moon as he attempts to elevate his team to new heights. Featuring a strong comedy cast in small and large roles alike, Ferrell is the undisputed focal point of the movie. He plays Jackie with his trademark intensity, always funny and always carrying the sometimes flimsy plot. It’s same old Ferrell - not quite Ron Burgundy, but still a wacky, loudmouth character that you love to laugh at. There’s some great scenes of comedy, with the chemistry between the stars cementing some standout scenes. Aside from the poker scene, other noteworthy laughs come from the deadly combination of Will Arnett and Andrew Daly. They’re excellent as the sports commentators, bouncing off one another to offer some respite from Ferrell’s eccentricities.

The plot is your run-of-the-mill underdog story that seems so common in sports-comedies. It’s got its fair share of plot holes, but ultimately sidesteps a lot of the drama and depth of the story for cheap laughs. I’m not mad at them. It’s a goofy film looking to make you laugh; I didn’t expect any kind of fleshed-out story amongst the bear fights and puking. However, they still tried. Which - whilst it misses the mark, is a commendable effort.

Woody Harrelson helms the dramatic side, giving a fairly decent, emotional performance alongside the sporting chaos. His character has more depth than most, so much so that at times it feels out of place. His arc of redemption is swiftly overshadowed and has me wondering why it was really necessary in the first place. If the film truly wanted to have some heart and some kind of genuine message of resilience, why not take a little more care to nourish this storyline? Instead it just fizzles away into a cheap, Hollywood resolution. But alas, this is a silly comedy and I’m expecting far too much.

Succeeding in making us laugh on a lazy Sunday morning, Semi Pro has served its purpose. It’s ridiculous, but it’s Ferrell having fun with his comedy pals and we’re happy to stick around for the jokes.

5.5/10

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Sam’s Review

Critically dragged, with a lousy score of 22% on Rotten Tomatoes, Semi Pro is just the kind of easy movie that appealed to me on a lazy Sunday, after a late night of fajitas and mojitos. Will Ferrell playing the man-child Jackie Moon, owner/player/coach/announcer of the Flint Tropics, seems right in his wheelhouse. Throw in Woody Harrelson, a phenomenal actor, 3 Stacks (Andre 3000) one of the greatest rappers to grace a mic, and Will Arnett (Lego Batman?!) and how could I say no?

It begins with Ferrell crooning "Love Me Sexy" with his angelic voice. The vulgar lyrics, even more disturbing when you find out how they were written, are as cringe-y as they are hysterical. Very. It sets the tone. A lot of funny noise, with little in the way of substance. Ferrell is brilliant as Jackie. Profanity laced outbursts that come from very little provocation are followed by mock innocence. It's lowbrow humour, but it's funny. The true stars are Arnett as Lou Redwood and Andrew Daly as Dick Pepperfield. Lou and Dick are the commentators for the Tropics' games, and their deadpan back-and-forth is fantastic. Recently I listened to Arnett on a podcast with Conan and realised just how funny the guy really is, and since then, I've gained a great admiration of the way he uses his voice as a comedic tool. It's got an All-Star cast that are firing on all cylinders.

However... there's little in the way of stakes. Jackie's urgency to save the Tropics from dissolution doesn't grip me. He seems to be doing it solely for the sake of his mother. While that's admirable, it doesn't weigh particularly heavy. You get the sense that the players would be alright. I mean, they can't be making that much, the Tropics are in disarray. And this film lacks depth. Though if you came to a Ferrell film expecting that, more fool you. Could this film have been so much more? Probably not. It's a limited story with stunted characters. An instance of this is Harrelson, so much talent reduced to a role-player. He makes an appearance off the bench from time to time to add some heart to the film, yet the story of redemption is lacklustre at best. It's disappointing to see an actor of Harrelson's calibre be sidelined. Don't get me wrong, as always his presence is felt. But his arc gets sacrificed to make more room for antics. And that's the crux of the film.

Bottom line, it's immature, but revels in it. And, with Jackie Moon being the master promoter that he is, it's hard not to get swept up in the fun.

6.5/10