Many critics denied the comedic power of Will Ferrell’s afro in Semi-Pro. I missed reviewing the movie the first time, but catching it on DVD, it’s not that bad. Ferrell entertains even when muscling through a gimped script. He keeps the 70’s vibe alive and once again shows off his uncanny singing ability.
Jackie Moon (Will Ferrell) is a white funkster famous for the single “Love Me Sexy.” He’s also the owner, coach, announcer, and star player of the ailing Flint Michigan Tropics. Having the worst record and lowest attendance in the ABA, the Tropics' future looks bleak. The NBA is buying out the league and is taking only the best teams with them. Despite having the coaching ability of a rock, Moon vows to pull the Tropics out of last place. For starters, he brings in a washed-up NBA veteran, Ed Monix (Woody Harrelson), who teaches the team how to play real basketball. To bring in the crowds, Moon stages the most outlandish promotional stunts the country has ever seen.
It’s a shame Semi-Pro doesn’t shine until about 30 minutes in. After opening strong with Moon’s hit song, the beginning is weighed down by pointless skits and mean put-downs. It’s a shame because “Love Me Sexy” features obscene lyrics that would make Isaac Hayes proud. In one line, Moon asks his woman to get “rainforest sweaty” with him.
Once the Tropics start playing games, the film gets funnier. Moon’s a showman with child-like enthusiasm and Ferrell’s usual random outbursts. You will see Moon coaching his team dressed as a giant sun. Semi-Pro’s memorable scenes include a fight with Dewey, the Killer Bear. Moon agrees to wrestle it to pack the seats. SNL cast member Kristin Wiig cameos as the bear’s trainer whose previous experience is with housecats. In another stunt, Moon lines the Tropics cheerleaders end-to-end spread eagle on the court and leaps over them Evel Knievel-style on roller skates. He comes up a bit short.
However, a sign a movie needs more jokes occurs when the reviewer's afraid of spoiling too many of them. Semi-Pro never gets into a rhythm where it keeps hitting one good joke after another. You can’t blame the writers for not trying. They just end up being gross in a couple of scenes. For example, Monix’s creepy fan, Kyle (Rob Cordry), is dating his ex-girlfriend Lynn (Maura Tierney). Kyle is cool with Monix reconnecting with Lynn in way that is never funny in any movie. Cordry creeps me out in whatever he’s in, but I digress.
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