Semi-Pro could have been an extremely funny movie. There are moments of absolute hilarity that had me rolling over in my seat, and several scenes during which I was shaking with uncontrollable mirth through several jokes. However, there were also times when I almost turned the movie off because it was so bad...that's something I've never done during a Will Ferrell movie.
Will Ferrell tends to keep the jokes coming at an alarming rate, no matter how cheap or stupid the gags are. Even last year's Blades of Glory was funny throughout, and it was probably one of the shallowest comedies I'd ever seen. The thing with Semi-Pro is that it often shies away from things that could've been VERY funny, or just mentions them in passing and only allows for a few chuckles. Half the jokes even feel recycled from Anchorman, such as Jackie Moon's (thankfully underdeveloped) obsession with his hair. Also, the fact that Jackie hasn't even had sex with his smokin' hot wife while hundreds of other do so all time is very funny, but the film often shies away from the aspects of this situation that could've been hysterical.
And what the f*ck (!!!!) was Woody Harrelson doing in this movie? He had no funny parts, and was generally, in Jackie's words, just "a bummer." The sub-plot of him and his wife only slowed the movie down. If he had been giving a role that he could've had fun with, maybe he would have been a nice addition to the movie. But he was just such a buzz-kill.
If you can tolerate Ferrell, you will tolerate this movie. If you are a Ferrell fan, you will laugh but still feel disappointed. But if you can't stand Ferrell, which is becoming a larger and larger population, do not bother. It's the type of movie that would seem great while intoxicated, but not great enough to even have any sort of recollection of watching it. And then once you think about it, it's probably not even worth watching straight, save for a few moments of absolute gut-busting hilarity.