Andrew Pace
In 2008, Will Ferrell starred in the sports comedy film *Semi-Pro*, about a fictional basketball team set during the final season of the American Basketball Association. Ferrell plays Jackie Moon, the owner-player-coach of the failing Flint Tropics, who rallies his teammates to make their NBA dreams come true. The film received generally negative reviews from critics, who found it unfunny and poorly scripted, although Ferrell's performance received some praise.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Film Name | Semi-Pro |
| Genre | Comedy, Sport |
| Release Date | 19 February 2008 |
| Runtime | 1h 31m |
| Rating | R |
| IMDb Rating | 5.8 |
| Rotten Tomatoes Score | 23% |
| Metacritic Score | 47/100 |
| Starring | Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, André Benjamin, Maura Tierney |
| Director | Kent Alterman |
| Writer | Scot Armstrong |
| Producer | Jimmy Miller |
| Production Company | New Line Cinema |
| Soundtrack | Features songs by LaBelle, WAR, Curtis Mayfield, Will Ferrell, and others |
| DVD/Blu-ray Release Date | 3 June 2008 |
| Gross Earnings | $43,884,904 worldwide |
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What You'll Learn
Will Ferrell's performance in Semi-Pro
In Semi-Pro, Ferrell plays Jackie Moon, the owner-player-coach of the fictional and failing Flint Tropics basketball team. To promote his team, Jackie wrestles a 7-foot-tall, 700-pound grizzly bear named Rocky. This scene tragically resulted in the death of Stephan Miller, the cousin of Ferrell's stunt double, Randy Miller, who was bitten on the neck by the bear. Ferrell also wrote and performed the song "Love Me Sexy" for the film.
Semi-Pro was released in 2008 and was directed by Kent Alterman. It also starred Woody Harrelson, André 3000 (credited as André Benjamin), and Maura Tierney. The film received a score of 23% on Rotten Tomatoes and an average score of 47 out of 100 on Metacritic. Despite the negative reviews, the film performed well at the box office, grossing $15 million in its opening weekend in the United States and Canada.
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Jackie Moon and the Flint Tropics
In the 2008 sports comedy film Semi-Pro, Will Ferrell plays Jackie Moon, a singer and one-hit-wonder who uses the profits from his disco hit "Love Me Sexy" to buy a basketball team in the American Basketball Association (ABA), the Flint Tropics. Jackie becomes the owner, head coach, starting power forward, and pre-game announcer of the team. The film is set in 1976, in Flint, Michigan, and follows the fictional ABA team's attempts to survive the league's merger with the NBA.
The Tropics are the worst team in the league and are in danger of dissolving. However, Jackie argues that the teams with the four best records should be merged, and the commissioner accepts. To boost attendance, Jackie engages in wacky promotions, such as wrestling a bear, jumping over 47 feet of ball girls on roller skates, and providing free corn dogs if the Tropics score 125 points. He also trades the team's washing machine to the Kentucky Colonels for Ed Monix, a backup point guard and former NBA Champion. Despite their struggles, Jackie remains a showman who provides the citizens of Flint with a glimmer of hope.
The cast of Semi-Pro includes Woody Harrelson as Ed Monix, André Benjamin as Clarence Withers/Coffee Black, Maura Tierney as Lynn, Andy Daly as Dick Pepperfield, and Will Arnett as Lou Redwood. The film was directed by Kent Alterman and written by Scot Armstrong. While it received generally negative reviews from critics, Ferrell's performance was praised. The film grossed $43,884,904 worldwide, with $33,479,698 from domestic ticket sales and $10,405,206 from international markets.
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Semi-Pro's critical reception
Will Ferrell's 2008 sports comedy, Semi-Pro, received generally negative reviews from critics. The film, which follows the fictional ABA team, Flint Tropics, desperate to survive the league's merger with the NBA, was criticised for its script. However, Ferrell's performance received praise.
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval score of 22-23% based on 160-161 reviews, with an average rating of 4.5/10. The critical consensus on the site describes the film as "an intermittently funny, half-hearted attempt at sports satire, and one of Will Ferrell's weaker cinematic efforts". Metacritic reported that the film had an average score of 47 out of 100, based on 29 reviews.
Alicia Chang of the Associated Press described the opening as "lacklustre" compared to Ferrell's previous sports spoofs Talladega Nights and Blades of Glory. One IMDb review said that while there were "a few laugh-out-loud moments", there were also parts that "just weren't funny at all". The review also criticised the film's language, saying that some of the profanity was excessive compared to past Will Ferrell movies.
Another IMDb review said that the Super Bowl ads for the movie were "funnier than the movie itself". They also criticised Ferrell for "wasting his comedic talents on re-enacting the same buffoonish character". The reviewer went on to say that the film "never quite reaches its maximum potential in spoofing an era and attitude long gone from professional sports".
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The film's soundtrack
The 2008 sports comedy film Semi-Pro starring Will Ferrell features a soundtrack that complements the film's 1970s setting and basketball theme. The soundtrack was released on February 26, 2008, ahead of the film's theatrical debut, and included a range of songs from different genres.
One of the most notable songs on the soundtrack is "Love Me Sexy," a disco hit performed by Will Ferrell himself in character as Jackie Moon. The song, co-written by Nile Rodgers, Scot Armstrong, and Ferrell, is an integral part of the film and Ferrell's character, who is famous for the ageing disco star. "Love Me Sexy" adds a layer of humour and showcases Ferrell's versatility as an actor-musician.
The soundtrack also features songs by artists such as LaBelle, WAR, and Curtis Mayfield, among others. These artists represent the era's musical diversity, with LaBelle's powerful female vocals and WAR and Curtis Mayfield's funk and soul sounds. The inclusion of these artists sets the tone and atmosphere of the film, transporting viewers back to the vibrant and groovy 1970s.
While the film received mixed reviews, with some critics considering it one of Ferrell's weaker efforts, the soundtrack contributes to the comedic and nostalgic elements of the film. The blend of disco, funk, and soul captures the era's musical trends and enhances the light-hearted nature of the sports satire.
Overall, the Semi-Pro soundtrack is an essential component of the film, providing a sonic backdrop that enhances the storytelling and character development. By evoking the sounds of the 1970s, the soundtrack adds authenticity and a unique flavour to the comedic tale of a struggling basketball team.
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The bear wrestling scene
In the 2008 sports comedy film Semi-Pro, Will Ferrell's character, Jackie Moon, owner-coach-player of the fictional American Basketball Association team the Flint Tropics, wrestles with a bear. This scene was filmed with a 5-year-old, 71⁄2-foot-tall (2.3 m), 700-pound (320 kg) male grizzly bear named Rocky. Ferrell's stunt double, Randy Miller, stood in for him during the scene.
In the scene, Jackie Moon grapples with the bear, showcasing his tenacity and fearlessness in a literal battle against the forces of nature. The bear wrestling functions as a metaphor for Moon's struggle to keep his team afloat during the final season of the American Basketball Association and amid the league's merger with the NBA.
The scene is not only a display of physical comedy but also serves as a promotional stunt for Moon's basketball team within the film's narrative. The spectacle of a man wrestling a bear is intended to drum up interest and excitement for the team, reflecting the character's showmanship and entrepreneurial spirit.
Tragedy struck during the filming of this scene when, in April 2008, Rocky the bear bit and killed Stephan Miller, Randy Miller's cousin and fellow trainer, seven weeks after the film's wide release. This incident underscores the inherent dangers of working with wild animals in film productions and serves as a somber footnote to the otherwise comedic tone of the film.
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Frequently asked questions
The name of the basketball movie starring Will Ferrell is 'Semi-Pro'.
'Semi-Pro' is about a one-hit-wonder-turned-basketball-team-owner who steps up to play power forward and wrestles a bear. The film is set during the final season of the American Basketball Association and tells the story of a fictional ABA team desperate to survive the league's merger with the NBA.
'Semi-Pro' also stars Woody Harrelson, André 3000 (credited as André Benjamin), and Maura Tierney.
'Semi-Pro' received generally negative reviews from critics, with an average score of 47 out of 100 on Metacritic and an approval score of 23% on Rotten Tomatoes.
