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Starring: Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, André 3000
Director: Kent Alterman
Running Time: 91 mins
Semi-Pro is an American film about a flailing semi-pro basketball team who set their sights on the NBA, under the leadership of their boisterous owner-coach-player.
Far from Will Ferrell’s best-known comedy, Semi-Pro is no Anchorman, but it certainly fits the bill of a light-hearted, enjoyably moronic romp with laughs and crazy characters from start to finish.
For the most part, Semi-Pro is your bog-standard sports comedy. A group of misfits see their chance at the big time, and go on the greatest underdog adventure before a final showdown that could decide their fate and so much more. Simple stuff.
So, with an entirely and deliberately familiar story, what’s to make Semi-Pro worth your time? Well, if you’re in need of a purely simple, throwaway comedy that’s there to do nothing but make you laugh, then Semi-Pro is the film to go for.
With a typically energetic and entertainingly shouty lead performance from Will Ferrell, as well as enjoyable supporting turns from the likes of André 3000, Woody Harrelson and David Koechner, the film counts on good star power and comedy chops to entertain.
Never ever taking itself in the slightest bit seriously, Semi-Pro’s gleeful silliness makes an entirely predictable story still thoroughly enjoyable. The jokes and writing aren’t spectacular, and perhaps lack some of the originality and wit of the likes of Anchorman or even Dodgeball, but there are still a good few laughs in this movie.
Overall, then, I had good fun with Semi-Pro. It’s not a masterpiece, but nor is it meant to be. With a fun, familiar story complete with entertaining performances and good laughs throughout, it’s as enjoyably light-hearted a comedy as you’ll find, and that’s why I’m giving it a 7.2.
