A whacked out comedy that tries too hard, Semi-Pro is a disappointment.

Semi-Pro is the fourth – and worst – sports related film starring comedian Will Ferrell. He plays Jackie Moon, hit singer of the No.1 selling record “Love Me Sexy”, and owner, coach, and player of the Flint Michigan Tropics, an appalling ABA team who spend most of their time brawling on the basketball court.

When the news breaks that the ABA will be merging with the NBA, Jackie is over the moon, only to be brought back down to Earth when he is informed that only the top 4 teams will be invited to the big dance. To keep their NBA dreams alive, Jackie and the Tropics must turn their season and start winning some ball games.

With Talladega Nights rocking its southern hick angle, and Blades of Glory basking in its homosexual overtones, Semi-Pro tries to milk 1970’s culture for all it’s got. The only problem is that Anchorman did it much better. 

For starters, there are just too many distractions. A subplot featuring a burned out hippie (played by Jackie Earle Haley) irritates, and a poker scene which tries to parody The Deer Hunter and Dirty Harry over stays its welcome, as do many other scenes which usually consist of Ferrell going over the top, flailing his arms and screaming his head off.  Some control by director Kent Alterman was needed during these moments. 

This brings me to the films biggest flaw (and its lone drawcard): Will Ferrell. As the shameless promoter who will (and does) wrestle a bear to make some money, Ferrell puts on his weakest performance in some time.

However, just like the movies fictional team, an in form Woody Harrelson (it is great to see him in starring roles again) and Andre Benjamin carry the film. Will Arnett and Andre Daly’s commenting tandem provide much needed laughs, in a film just does not deliver as consistently as it should in the jokes department.