Photo by: New Line Cinema
The 2004 release of “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” launched Will Ferrell from relative obscurity and onto the A list of comedy stars.
Since then, he has proven himself a solid comedic actor time and time again, but nothing that quite lives up to the lofty expectations he set in “Anchorman.” Unfortunately, “Semi-Pro” is not the movie to change this.
The story follows Jackie Moon (Will Ferrell), an ex-singer/songwriter who hit it big once in the past and used the money he made to buy an American Basketball Association semi-pro franchise, the Tropics of Flint, Mich. However, his time living the good life is cut short when the ABA’s commissioner (David Koechner) announces that the ABA will merge with the NBA, but only the four best teams will be allowed to convert.
In a desperate bid to bring the last-place Tropics up to fourth, Jackie Moon hires washed-up NBA player Monix (Woody Harrelson) to lead the team to victory. This irks the Tropics’ star player, Clarence Black (Andre Benjamin), and creates a great deal of tension that threatens to tear the team apart.
“Semi-Pro” does a lot of things right. It is filled to the brim with absurdist humor, most of it quite good.
Thankfully, it also does not take itself too seriously. The comedy is undeniably lowbrow, but if you were going to this movie expecting something thought provoking, you must be crazy.
However, “Semi-Pro” also falls flat in some areas where it could have soared. A huge mistake the filmmakers made was to give so much attention to Harrelson’s character Monix and his love interest Lynn (Maura Tierney). The movie would have functioned perfectly well without either of them, though Rob Corddry’s addition to the love triangle redeemed it a little.
In addition, the movie sported some wonderful comedic actors whose talent was basically squandered. Andy Richter and Will Arnett, both brilliantly funny men, were given too few lines and too little screen time altogether.
The biggest mistake in the movie’s production was probably the rushed nature of the storyline. Too many things happen to too many characters, and to squeeze it all in, the plot rushes at a speed way too fast for its own good. One could liken it to trying to read a story printed on a billboard while driving past it at 180mph.
You barely have time to absorb what you are reading before the next billboard comes up and you have to switch focus entirely. Slowing the film down a bit would have improved the movie exponentially.
Ferrell plays his role well. He combines deadpan delivery with his trademark flat screaming to great comedic effect. In the end though, he is really the only reason to fork out the cash for a ticket.
If you happen to be a huge Ferrell fan, then give this movie a go. Ferrell’s usual formula of humor will not disappoint die-hard fans.
However, if you are one who finds his antics childish and not that funny, this movie is not going to change your mind.
Bottomline, “Semi-Pro” is either a hit or a miss depending on your level of Ferrell love.
