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Welcome to Reel People. It’s a place where, you guessed it, real people like yourselves spout off on new movie releases. It works best if you - yes, we mean you - jump into the forum link below and tell us what you think of the movie, too.
This week, we’re watching Semi-Pro.
What I Liked: Will Ferrell plays a cheesy one-hit pop singer who buys, coaches and plays for a semi-pro basketball team. He’s only slightly more talented at promotion than the X’s and O’s of the hard wood, which isn’t saying much.
The movie is elevated by its surrounding performers, notably Woody Harrelson as an aging ex-NBA star and Andre Benjamin as the flashy young player looking to make it to the big leagues. A fun plot drives home the ideas of teamwork and moving toward a singular goal. Toss in a wrestling grizzly bear, and you have a steady stream of laughs.
What I Disliked: This is more of the same from Ferrell, who turns in his typical performance as a self-absorbed loser that wants to achieve something great but doesn’t know how to get there. It would be nice to see him branch out into more roles like he’s tried in “Stranger Than Fiction” and Woody Allen’s “Melinda and Melinda.”
For the movie, a romantic subplot centering on Harrelson and his lost love (Maura Tierney) is weakly developed, providing only minmal laughs.
Would I Recommend?: It’s a definite for Ferrell fans and others can find plenty to laugh about. But parents, be warned: there is an abundance of language and sexual situations that makes this inappropriate for younger kids.
Score: 7 out of 10
- Don Smith
What I Liked: “Semi-Pro” had a couple memorable scenes that I loved. My favorite scene was a very off the wall anti gun safety shooting spree with a supposed unloaded gun which of course ended up in an accidental shooting. I’d say this is the best comedy of the year so far.
What I Disliked: Sadly, “Semi-Pro” did not live up to my very high expectations. As a huge Will Ferrell fan, I’ve been longing for one of his movies to match (or top) my favorites, “Talladega Nights,” “Old School,” and “Zoolander.” “Semi-Pro” was stupid, to be expected, but for me it lacked the outrageous, over-the-top quality that allows Will Ferrell to do his best acting. The script was way too tame for me. The cheesy, typical sports plot really stunted the movie’s ability to do new things. For all the “sexiness” in the advertising of this movie, Will Ferrell did not get sexy or unclothed at all! A lot of scenes held a lot of potential, such as the bear vs. Will Ferrell fight in the ring, but ended up being very anticlimactic. In the film’s defense, a lot of the jokes may have gone straight over my head, like the “jive turkey” scene, because it takes place in the 70s and I wasn’t even alive yet. The 70s soundtrack was also killing me, possibly causing me to tune out parts of the movie. It’s very possible that people older than me would enjoy the movie more.
Would I Recommend?: I’d recommend “Semi-Pro” to major Will Ferrell fans, but general audiences might be bored.
Score: 5 out of 10
- Jessica Conrad
What I Liked: Semi-Pro was a funny movie with a great cast.
Will Farrell plays Jackie Moon; owner, promoter, and player of the Flint, MI Tropics. As a result of a pending merger between the NBA and the ABA, the Tropics must try to stay in the game. Madness ensues as Moon resorts to outlandish promotions in order to increase the fan base in hopes of joining the NBA.
The cast also includes Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin, Will Arnett, and Andy Richter. At times, Will Arnett stole the show from Farrell as a hilarious drunken sports caster.
What I Disliked: Will Farrell plays the same character in all of his movies. I was a little disappointed, but not surprised, to see him play the same character yet again.
There were certain scenes in the film which attempted to be funny but were, instead, disturbing and a little obscene.
Would I Recommend?: Long time Will Farrell fans will love the movie. However, I would strongly recommend that you leave small children at home!
Score: 5 out of 10
- Jessica A. Locke
