Semi-Pro (2008)

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Semi-Pro (2008): Dir: Kent Alterman / Cast: Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin, Maura Tierney, Will Arnett: Hilarious sports comedy starring Will Ferrell as promoter Jackie Moon who's basketball team sucks. Washed up player Ed Monix shows up to help them. As with Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Semi-Pro counters formula by creating interesting characters. The results are very funny with director Kent Alterman doing a terrific job with the pop culture references. This is Alterman's first film as director and he is backed by fine comic performances. Ferrell plays a show boat who desperately wishes to regain the spotlight he once had. He will stoop to wrestling a bear to gain an audience. Woody Harrelson is well cast as Monix who isn't satisfied with his past but will assist Ferrell and his team as if to correct his problem by solving another. Andre Benjamin portrays the one player worth his salt but he is sought after by another major team. Maura Tierney plays Monix's ex-girlfriend whose husband enjoys being a cuckold. Will Arnett steals scenes as an alcoholic colour commentator. The one big flaw is that the outcome is predictable. We know that Ferrell will score, Harrelson will mend, Benjamin will return, Arnett will drink while calling the event, and Tierney will be the cheating married woman. Rewarding comedy that scores big on it's 70's sports references. Score: 9 / 10

Semi-Pro is a good movie with a decent storyline and a great comedic cast.While I will admit it is not a fantastic or outstanding comedy movie,it is still enjoyable and discern't deserve the harsh reviews it received,I thought there were several very funny scenes,it certainly isn't Will Ferrell's finest film but it's not terrible.I also appreciated several other very funny actors in this movie,Will Arnett,Andy Richter and André Benjamin were very funny and I really enjoyed the scenes with Woody Harrelson,Maura Tierney and Rob Corddry,they were so ridiculous but that's what made it so funny.Semi-Pro is nothing outstanding,but it's an enjoyable comedy that I would recommend to anyone looking for a quick comedy to kill some time. A US basketball team attempt to survive the merger of two leagues in 1976.Best Performance: Will Ferrell

If anyone like me is a huge of Will Ferrell and his style of comedy, then there's no doubt that this is an excellent film choice for you, I loved it!Another sports comedy for Ferrell this time, after Talladega Nights (2005) and Blades of Glory (2007), once again proving itself winning formula with hilarious results.The film sees outspoken basketball franchise owner Jackie Moon who desperately tries to coach, play for and motivate his team when they hear the news that they will be dropped from the league.Will Ferrell is obviously brilliant playing the eccentric and overwhelming Jackie Moon, but is also supported by a great cast including Woody Harrelson, who takes well to his comedic role, Andre Benjamin (previously of Outkast fame) who looks a promising newcomer as a comedy actor and old favourites of Ferrell's movies including Andy Richter, Will Arnett and David Koechner.Full of snappy one liners that you'll be quoting for hours afterwards, and some truly outrageous scenes including Jackie wrestling a bear, and an on-court altercation with a priest! The highlight of this movie in my opinion is the poker game, I won't spoil it for you, but it's definitely not one to be missed it's side splittingly funny.Obviously, this movie is by no means perfect and the reason I've given it such a high rating is because I love these types of comedy and find Ferrell one of, if not the best in his field. It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea but if you're looking for a good laugh with your friends and something not at all serious for your movie night then give 'Semi Pro' a chance it won't let you down!

I have to say that I was disappointed with this Will Ferrell film because he is so talented and the cast is full of equally talented and known people like Woody Harrelson, Rob Corddry, Andrew Daly, Christine Wiig, and Maura Tierney. The film is set in 1976 in Flint, Michigan before the city took an economic turn for the worse. It's actually Michael Moore's hometown. It would have been nice to have seen him in the film. Unlike his Blades of Glory, his Jackie Moon is a lot more tamer than his Chaz Michael Michaels character. There is a scene with Patti LaBelle but I won't spoil it for you. Apart from the language and the surprised PG-13 rating, this film is a lot tamer about the American Basketball Association dissolving and only taking four teams to the National Basketball Association. Will the Flint Tropics be one of the lucky teams, you will have to watch and see. There are some moments like when Jackie Moon wrestles with an actual bear and jumps over the cheerleaders to help improve audience numbers. Will Ferrell is still one of my favorite performers and even though the script needs improvement, the film is still watchable.