Saoirse Downs
Will Ferrell is an American actor and comedian known for his roles in sports comedy films. In 2008, Ferrell starred in the basketball-themed film 'Semi-Pro', alongside Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin, and Maura Tierney. Ferrell played Jackie Moon, the owner-coach-player of the fictional American Basketball Association team, the Flint Tropics. The film followed the team's attempts to survive the ABA's merger with the NBA.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Film Name | Semi-Pro |
| Genre | Comedy, Sport |
| Year | 2008 |
| Director | Kent Alterman |
| Writer | Scot Armstrong |
| Producer | Jimmy Miller |
| Starring | Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, André 3000/André Benjamin, Maura Tierney |
| Will Ferrell's Character | Jackie Moon |
| Plot | Set during the final season of the American Basketball Association, the film tells the story of a fictional ABA team desperate to survive the league's merger with the NBA |
| Runtime | 1 hour, 31 minutes |
| Rating | R |
| Opening Weekend Gross | $15 million |
| Total Worldwide Gross | $43,884,904 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Score | 23% |
| Metacritic Score | 47/100 |
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What You'll Learn
Will Ferrell's performance in Semi-Pro
Peter Travers of Rolling Stone commended Ferrell's performance, stating, "when the script, by Scott Armstrong, shoots air balls, Ferrell is a slam dunk." Similarly, Claudia Puig of USA Today described the film as "definitely more than semi-funny," indicating that Ferrell's performance elevated the script. Alicia Chang of the Associated Press, however, described the film's opening as "lackluster" compared to Ferrell's previous sports-themed comedies, Talladega Nights and Blades of Glory.
Some viewers considered Semi-Pro to be one of Ferrell's weaker performances. One Reddit user attributed this to the timing of its release, stating that it came out "among an absolute wave of Will Ferrell movies." Another user suggested that the premise felt overdone, as it followed a similar formula to several of Ferrell's previous films, including Anchorman, Talladega Nights, and Blades of Glory.
Despite the mixed reviews, Semi-Pro has developed a cult following, with some viewers considering it a hidden gem in Ferrell's filmography.
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The film's poor critical reception
Will Ferrell's 2008 basketball comedy film, *Semi-Pro*, received generally negative reviews from critics. The film has a poor critical reception, with an approval score of 23% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 160 reviews, and an average rating of 4.5/10. Metacritic reported an average score of 47 out of 100, based on 29 reviews.
The film has been described as an "intermittently funny, half-hearted attempt at sports satire" and one of Ferrell's "weaker cinematic efforts". Critics have criticized the script, but Ferrell's performance received praise. One critic, Alicia Chang of the Associated Press, described the opening as "lackluster" compared to Ferrell's previous sports spoofs *Talladega Nights* and *Blades of Glory*. Chang's review highlighted the disparity in box office performance, with *Talladega Nights* opening at $47 million and *Blades of Glory* at $33 million, while *Semi-Pro* grossed $15 million in its opening weekend.
Despite the film's poor critical reception, Ferrell's character, Jackie Moon, remains a favourite of the actor, who has reprised the role on several occasions, including at an NBA game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers.
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The wrestling of a grizzly bear
In the 2008 sports comedy film Semi-Pro, Will Ferrell's character wrestles a 7-foot-tall, 700-pound male grizzly bear named Rocky to promote his basketball team. In real life, two college wrestlers, Kendell Cummings and Brady Lowry, also had a close encounter with a grizzly bear in the Wyoming wilderness near Yellowstone. The two pairs of wrestlers were half a mile apart when Brady yelled out, "Bear!" and was hit by a 500-pound grizzly. The bear was in kill mode, and neither sticks nor stones could distract it. Kendell, who was about 50 feet away, launched the most dangerous takedown attempt he had ever tried. He ran and threw his body onto the bear's back, yanking on the fur around its neck. This got the grizzly's attention, and it swung around just as Kendell released his hold and started sprinting away. The entire grizzly bear attack lasted less than five minutes, but it brought the wrestling team closer together.
Grizzlies are federally protected, and killing them, even in self-defence, can result in a year in prison and a $50,000 fine. They are considered one of the most dangerous creatures on Earth due to their singular ferocity. In a fight between a grizzly and a human, the bear would likely emerge as the clear winner. Playing dead by covering your head and neck with your hands and arms, remaining quiet, and lying flat on your stomach is recommended if you encounter a grizzly bear.
In April 2008, Rocky the Grizzly Bear, who wrestled Will Ferrell's character in Semi-Pro, killed Stephan Miller, one of his trainers and the cousin of Will Ferrell's stunt double, by biting him on the neck. This tragic incident underscores the inherent dangers of working with wild animals, even with extensive training and precautions in place.
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The Flint Tropics
In the film, Jackie Moon, famous for the ageing disco hit "Love Me Sexy", rallies his teammates to make their NBA dreams come true. The Flint Tropics roster includes Woody Harrelson as Ed Monix, an ageing former NBA Champion point guard, and André Benjamin as Clarence Withers, aka Coffee Black, who dreams of playing in the NBA. Maura Tierney plays Lynn, Ed Monix's love interest, while Andy Daly portrays Dick Pepperfield, the play-by-play announcer for the Tropics. Will Arnett plays Lou Redwood, the colour commentator for the Tropics, who smokes cigarettes and drinks Scotch while commentating.
The film also features a scene where Ferrell's character wrestles a 7-foot-tall, 700-pound grizzly bear named Rocky to promote his team. Unfortunately, the bear killed Stephan Miller, one of his trainers and a cousin of Ferrell's stunt double, by biting him on the neck.
Semi-Pro received generally negative reviews from critics, who criticised the script. However, Ferrell's performance received praise, and the film grossed over $43 million worldwide.
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The soundtrack
The 2008 American sports comedy film Semi-Pro stars Will Ferrell as Jackie Moon, a one-hit wonder who buys a basketball team with the profits from his song "Love Me Sexy". The film, set in 1976, also stars Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin, and Will Arnett.
The Semi-Pro soundtrack, released on February 26, 2008, features classic funk hits from the 70s, including songs by LaBelle, WAR, Curtis Mayfield, and Sly & The Family Stone. It also includes a song by Ferrell himself, a funky version of "Love Me Sexy", as well as his rendition of the Brothers Johnson's "Get the Funk Out Ma Face".
One Amazon review of the soundtrack says: "The music was so good, we just had to buy the soundtrack too... it was worth it seeing Will Ferrell singing along, word for word, to the brothers Johnson's funk hit, 'Get the Funk Out Ma Face'!!!"
Another review says: "I love this soundtrack CD as it has a lot of the oldies music I grew up with so this was a successful online purchase for me with an added bonus of a funny funky song by Will Ferrell himself that I like!"
The film received generally negative reviews, but Ferrell's performance received praise.
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Frequently asked questions
The name of the basketball movie starring Will Ferrell is 'Semi-Pro'.
Will Ferrell's character in 'Semi-Pro' is named Jackie Moon.
'Semi-Pro' is about a one-hit-wonder-turned-basketball-team owner who steps up to play power forward. Jackie Moon, the owner-coach-player of the American Basketball Association's Flint Michigan Tropics, rallies his teammates to make their NBA dreams come true.
'Semi-Pro' received a 23% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 4.5/10.
