Movie Review - Semi-Pro
Director: Kent AltermanCast: Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin, Maura Tierney
There was a time not long ago when the name Will Ferrell held such a presence in comedy; it was a period of much laughter and originality- oh what a wonderful time it was. But if Semi-Pro is anything to go by, this magical era looks to be coming to a sad, breezy end.
Its not that the man is not funny, because he genuinely is, but it just seems that possibly we have acclimatized to his style of humor and hence it doesn’t possess such a force as it once did in the days of Old School and Anchorman, or it may just be that the script for this 70’s hoop comedy is a little sub-par. Whatever it is, Semi-Pro tends to pass right by your funny bone- there is a definite lack of tickling going on.
This film promised much with the 70’s setting looking like an appetizing slate for Ferrell to wash his unique style over. To some degree this is the film’s greatest asset, with the characters hyperbolizing the style of that decade which in turn links in with the sport of choice. The feel is there, but the spark is oddly absent. I guess there is only so much one man can do to carry a comedy and without the backup of equally crack-up actors, Semi-Pro tends to go down as a missed opportunity. Ferrell generates several chuckles from his typical ego-fuelled man-God character, but Harrelson’s is somewhat serious and Benjamin’s is too for a lot of the time, with little room to get warmed up.
The basis for story in the movie is centered on Ferrell’s Jackie Moon (owner/coach/player) and his Flint Tropics, a struggling lower grade basketball team who face extinction with their league’s upcoming merger with the NBA. In short, the Tropics need to win games and boost their crowd numbers to survive the cut. Of course, hilarity is supposed to ensue. But, well…
For Ferrell fans this will still be an entertaining little movie, one to watch on a quiet Friday night with a bunch of the guys. His classics like Anchorman and the like will, however, not be challenged in the hilarity stakes by Semi-Pro. But onwards and upwards right?
Its not that the man is not funny, because he genuinely is, but it just seems that possibly we have acclimatized to his style of humor and hence it doesn’t possess such a force as it once did in the days of Old School and Anchorman, or it may just be that the script for this 70’s hoop comedy is a little sub-par. Whatever it is, Semi-Pro tends to pass right by your funny bone- there is a definite lack of tickling going on.
This film promised much with the 70’s setting looking like an appetizing slate for Ferrell to wash his unique style over. To some degree this is the film’s greatest asset, with the characters hyperbolizing the style of that decade which in turn links in with the sport of choice. The feel is there, but the spark is oddly absent. I guess there is only so much one man can do to carry a comedy and without the backup of equally crack-up actors, Semi-Pro tends to go down as a missed opportunity. Ferrell generates several chuckles from his typical ego-fuelled man-God character, but Harrelson’s is somewhat serious and Benjamin’s is too for a lot of the time, with little room to get warmed up.
The basis for story in the movie is centered on Ferrell’s Jackie Moon (owner/coach/player) and his Flint Tropics, a struggling lower grade basketball team who face extinction with their league’s upcoming merger with the NBA. In short, the Tropics need to win games and boost their crowd numbers to survive the cut. Of course, hilarity is supposed to ensue. But, well…
For Ferrell fans this will still be an entertaining little movie, one to watch on a quiet Friday night with a bunch of the guys. His classics like Anchorman and the like will, however, not be challenged in the hilarity stakes by Semi-Pro. But onwards and upwards right?
Labels: Andre Benjamin, Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson
posted by Best Boy at
11:51 PM
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