Will Ferrell plays an arrogant buffoon who makes us laugh. Is that the premise for most of his movies since Old School? Yes, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. In his newest film, Semi Pro, Ferrell plays the Ricky Bobby of basketball, Jackie Moon. Woody Harrelson and Andre Benjamin (better known as Andre 3000 from OutKast) co-star as Ferrell's teammates.
At the start of the film, Jackie Moon's ABA basketball team, the Flint Michigan Tropics, is in danger of extinction when the ABA announces its merger with the NBA. Moon, who excels more at theatrics than the game itself, enlists the help of Monix (Harrelson), a former NBA player. The team has to start winning games and earning fans if they want a chance to make it to the NBA. Will they do it? Pay $8 to find out.
But seriously folks, if you're looking for a quality film with great cinematography and excellent editing, this isn't for you. In fact, no Will Ferrell film is for you, except for maybe Stranger Than Fiction. Like I said, this is your typical Will Ferrell movie. The plot's not really that important. The real heart of the movie is watching Jackie Moon make an absolute fool out of himself. Are there cheap laughs? Of course there are. He wrestles a bear, he sings a song called "Love Me Sexy," he trades a player for a washing machine.
What differentiates this from previous Will Ferrell movies are the story lines that follow Monix and Andre Benjamin's character, Clarence "Coffee" Black. Monix's side story reveals his real motives for coming to the team as hopes for reclaiming his ex-girlfriend (Maura Tierney of ER). Coffee Black is a showboat who wants to be in the NBA. This comes into conflict with Monix, a benchwarmer with a championship ring. They have their spats at first, but eventually grow to like each other. I know. I was surprised too.
The gags are funny. It's gross seeing Will Ferrell's husky, hairy body in gym shorts, but it's funny. While this movie isn't Anchorman good, it's still funny. This movie doesn't reach out for something new, yet it still serves its purpose in making dudes laugh. Personally, I enjoyed two aspects of the movie. First of all, the commentators for the team were hysterical. Will Arnett and Andrew Daly deliver probably the best punch lines in the movie. Second of all, the bear scene is great. Something about Will Ferrell fighting wild animals cracks me up.
What worries me is the pace that these films are being released. Ferrell is already coming out with another movie this movie with John C. Reilly called Step Brothers. He is also in talks to make Booby Trap: The Tale of Rusty Butte so that he can complete his Mediocre American Man Trilogy. To me, it's too much at once, but if it's funny and it makes him money, let the boys play. I can already feel his comedy getting stale. I still laugh, but at the same time, I've seen this movie before. Then again, I have to give him credit -- he does wrestle a bear. 3
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