Seen on: February 29, 2008

The players: Director: Kent Alterman, Writer: Scot Armstrong, Cast: Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, Andre 'Andre 3000' Benjamin, Jay Phillips, Will Arnett

Facts of interest: Scot Armstrong also wrote "The Heartbreak Kid" and "Old School."

The plot: Will Ferrell plays Jackie Moon, a basketball coach who tries anything in this world to get his team to join the NBA. And yes, that includes wrestling a bear!

Our thoughts: Watching Will Ferrell wrestle a bear in “Semi-Pro” is hilarious. Watching Will Ferrell do everything else in the movie is boring. Sure, Ferrell may have delivered quirky performances as news anchor in “Anchorman,” NASCAR driver in “Talladega Nights” and figure skater in “Blades of Glory,” but when it comes to playing basketball, he obviously lacks training. Yep, even a Will Ferrell should be benched from time to time.

In “Semi-Pro,” Ferrell stars as Jackie Moon, the owner, coach and player of the Flint Michigan Tropics, the worst team in the American Basketball Association. But when the ABA commissioner announces the league will merge with the NBA and only the top four teams will be going, Jackie puts all his love and energy on the line to end the Tropicals’ losing streak before it’s too late. 

That pretty much sums it up for the plot. As much as I hate to say this, “Semi-Pro” didn’t entirely convince me. For the first time in a long time, I was bored watching Ferrell do his usual thing on the big screen. The film certainly delivers some laughs and carries an overall refreshing flair, but the script by Scot Armstrong is often too shallow to keep the audience captivated. The basketball action has been kept to a minimum, the (mostly vulgar) jokes often fall flat, and the main story line is infested with unnecessary subplots that lack development and fail to pick up pace. 

On a more positive note, the film largely benefits from a handful of sequences that may trigger a smile or two. The funniest scenes involve Jackie’s incredibly eccentric promotional stunts to earn the Tropics some fans. Jackie may not know how to play the game, but he knows how to amuse the crowd during halftime. Jumping over his cheerleaders in roller skates, wearing flamingo costumes for a dance interlude, and wrestling a real bear in a cage are just some of his ideas to keep the entertainment ball rolling.

Ferrell has a natural talent for playing his characters with wit and striking credibility, and Jackie Moon is certainly no exception. Had Armstrong only supplied him with better lines and more original ways to unleash his sensational exuberance, I am convinced Ferrell could have pulled “Semi-Pro” out of mediocrity. Joining Jackie Moon are Andre Benjamin, Woody Harrelson, Maura Tierney (from “ER”) and Will Arnett, who all deliver so-so performances. Acting honors this time go to Andrew Daly for his solid role as Tropics radio commentator and TV host.

Freaky quote: "Don’t worry guys I got these. I’m very good at free throws. Seriously, free throws are a private best, faster than my game." – Will Ferrell

The final word: As the title suggests, much in “Semi-Pro” is only semi-amusing. Kudos however goes to the set designers and production gang for giving the film such a nice retro ‘70s look. That being said, diehard Ferrell fans may pull more laughs out of this game than others, but I think it’s fair to assume this is his weakest sports comedy yet. Better work on those free throws Jackie!