Hot off the success of Anchorman and Talladega Nights, Will Ferrell stars in Semi-Pro. This is a movie that tries to combine the retro 70s elements of Anchorman with the sporting action of Nights and yet ends up a poor cousin to both films.
Its familiarity is a substantial part of why this movie fails to impress. Ferrell plays Jackie Moon, owner, coach and player for The Tropics, a basketball team that is going nowhere. With the threat of the semi-professional leagues shutting down, Moon aims to score a top four finish for his team that will result in being moved to the prestigious NBA in a merger.
Like Anchorman, Ferrell's character struggles with newfound competition, this time from Woody Harrelson as former NBA player Ed Monix. Like Anchorman there is a scene in which Ferrell fights a member of the bear family (though it is far less funny). Like Anchorman, Ferrell's character relaxes musically - this time by spinning lps rather than playing the flute.
Sure, there's some fun moments making fun of seventies fashions and tastes (including a fondue scene) but everything here feels tired or second-best.
Whilst Talladega Nights was enjoyable for its affectionate mocking of the hyper-butch NASCAR scene and Ferrell's Blades of Glory lovingly lampooned the world of professional ice skating, semi-professional basketball simply isn't all that funny. It also doesn't feel that interesting.
Good jokes and character humour can always make up for a weak situation but the script is seriously weak and frequently predictable. Other than a glorious scene between Monix and the wife of a fan in the second half of the picture little grabs the attention. I would challenge anyone to be able to quote more than one line of this flick once the credits roll.
Ferrell and Harrelson both throw everything they have at this and manage to elicit a few chuckles yet the material they are working with simply is not very funny.
This film is a disappointment, weaker than its obvious influences, and the first misfire from Ferrell in a long time.