Semi-Pro (2008)

I can't believe no one here has made a comparison between this and the 1977 movie Slap Shot staring Paul Newman. Anyway I first watched this movie as a kid and loved it for the violence, the weird humor, and what I though was an original story. However; Semi Pro is not original in the slightest it stole everything from a little movie from the 70's called Slap Shot. Semi Pro like Slap Shot has plot which features an underdog team who are going to be disbanded at the end of the season because of their losing streak and poor track record who then decide to start improving their game but also start fights between their rival teams which makes no sense because they were playing basketball not a sport known for it's overly violent behavior between rival players. But i digress, and besides when I first watched it I knew almost nothing about professional basketball. Anyway they get a new player or players and he or they help the team drastically improve their game and consequently also get more fans. Things start to look up for protagonists but then then the coach takes a visit to the team's owner or whatever and finds they team will be disbanded regardless of if they win or not. Then as the cards seem to tipped against them, but things turn around they win the game get the trophy and become a new team. Which is the exact same plot as Slap Shot with some minor differences. Now Semi-Pro may try to add in more humor like fighting a grizzly bear or the team dressing up as fruity sea creatures and other failed attempts at humor. While Slap Shot on the other is a little more subtle with its humor though you'd be hard pressed to call anything in slap shot subtle, though it is when you examine it and it produces some honestly funny moments where most people find themselves laughing and not just spaced out stoners and nimrods who find Dane Cook and that puppet guy funny. In conclusion this movie fooled me as kid, but don't let it fool you it's a cheap ripoff of another infinitely better movie made to make money.

First of all, and one may not know that, but the premise of the movie, the merger of the ABA and the NBA, is actually is a real fact. If you are a basketball fan, you will be pleasantly surprised by that side of the story.The 70's universe is very refined: looks, clothes, etc., and a special attention has been given to the soundtrack. Esthetically, Alterman met the challenge.The script is very classic with no real surprise. Everything unfolds smoothly but in a false rhythm that struggles to fully catch the attention of the viewer.The humour is very uneven and most of the gags fall flat. The absurd aspect characterizing Ferrell isn't that noticeable, maybe because he wasn't part of the writing team.

I wasn't to keen on watching it in the first place because it looked dumb and the movie was exactly what i thought it was going to be and a whole lot worse. Its another Will Ferrell fail (thank God he was in Stepbrothers otherwise all his movies would be fails)The story of Semi-Pro is Jackie Moon (Will Ferrell) and his basketball team the tropics trying to get into the NBA. Moon being the owner, coach and player takes it apon himself to lift the team into the NBA by doing outrageously silly stunts like wrestling a bear and media conferences to attract people to their home games. The team is lifted with gun player Clarence 'Coffee' Black (Andre Benjamin) and adopted coach/player Monix (Woody Harrelson)as they get really close to getting into the NBA but miss out thanks to Jackie.The movie never hits a high note as its funny bits are so stupid you don't even laugh at how stupid it is. Unless your a massive Will Ferrell fan don't watch it, even if you are still don't its the WORST movie i hav ever seen and the only movie I've walked out on.

This movie is a pretty good venture for Will Ferrell and his cast of well- known actors playing somewhat comedic roles. The main element of comedy in the movie is the stupidity of Ferrell's character, Jackie Moon, an independent basketball team owner/coach and former music one-hit-wonder with his song "Love Me Sexy." His sports-themed movies are pretty much all the same, and this being the fourth sports movie he's done, it didn't really add anything to what has been done in his past movies. I think the funniest part in the movie was when he thought it would be a good idea for his team to wear eye shadow to freak out the other team and the craziness that ensues. For the most part, I liked the movie, but if it were in my DVD collection, I'd probably overlook it most of the time. The concepts are funny on their own, but Ferrell ends up playing a very needy, confused individual that gets annoying after awhile.