Semi - ProDir: Kent Alterman
90 mins
2008
It is the 1970s and Jackie Moon is a one hit wonder and owner / player of a lower league basketball team. The lower league of basketball is about to be dissolved into the NBA, in turn disbanding Moons lowly placed team. Moon will do anything to get his team into the NBA including hiring the experience of NBA veteran Monix for the remaining competitive fixtures.
Many will balk at seeing another sports comedy involving Will Ferrell. Arguably though this it is what Ferrell does best. Unfortunately in this case there is nothing here to match the inspired lunacy of either Talledega Nights (2006) or Blades Of Glory (2007). Ferrell does the best he can with the material here but it is intrinsically weak. There is a certain desperation that Semi Pro succumbs to in relying on the conventions of funnier sports comedies which leads to a jaded feel in the proceedings. Semi Pro has its funniest moments for Will Ferrell fans in the first half an hour, the early boardroom scene being notable, but from here on in the plot is as predictable as day following night. Ferrell is at least trying, the same cannot be said of Woody Harrelson who practically faxes in his performance and seems kind of dazed in a role which is a poor diluted rehash of his Roy Munson in Kingpin (1996). This becomes more problematic as the film enters its second and final act as the narrative favours Monix and his redemption. This whole aspect is woefully underwritten and the love interest for Monix is so lightweight and callow it might as well of been jettisoned entirely.
Many will balk at seeing another sports comedy involving Will Ferrell. Arguably though this it is what Ferrell does best. Unfortunately in this case there is nothing here to match the inspired lunacy of either Talledega Nights (2006) or Blades Of Glory (2007). Ferrell does the best he can with the material here but it is intrinsically weak. There is a certain desperation that Semi Pro succumbs to in relying on the conventions of funnier sports comedies which leads to a jaded feel in the proceedings. Semi Pro has its funniest moments for Will Ferrell fans in the first half an hour, the early boardroom scene being notable, but from here on in the plot is as predictable as day following night. Ferrell is at least trying, the same cannot be said of Woody Harrelson who practically faxes in his performance and seems kind of dazed in a role which is a poor diluted rehash of his Roy Munson in Kingpin (1996). This becomes more problematic as the film enters its second and final act as the narrative favours Monix and his redemption. This whole aspect is woefully underwritten and the love interest for Monix is so lightweight and callow it might as well of been jettisoned entirely.
The script has come from the pen of Scott Armstrong who along with this has a couple of other stinkers to his name with School for Scoundrels (2006) and the excruciating Heartbreak Kid (2007). While not as bad as those films Semi Pro is rushed and careless on paper, therefore strong comedy potential is thrown away. First time director Kent Alterman manages to turn in slick enough direction and Will Ferrell sometimes shines through the mediocrity but in the end it is not enough to paper over the cracks. What with the more sophisticated writing of the Judd Apatow comedy bandwagon in the ascendancy the frat pack related bunch really should be trying harder and more importantly trying something new.
2 / 6
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