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Will Ferrell is known for his comedic performances, and one of his more unique roles was in the 2008 sports comedy film 'Semi-Pro', where he plays Jackie Moon, a basketball team owner, player and coach. 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. Ferrell's character even wrestles a bear in one scene, which tragically resulted in the death of one of the trainers, who was the cousin of Ferrell's stunt double.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Film Name | Semi-Pro |
| Genre | Comedy, Sport |
| Release Date | 2008 |
| Will Ferrell's Character Name | Jackie Moon |
| Runtime | 1h 31m |
| Rating | R |
| Rotten Tomatoes Score | 23% |
| Worldwide Gross | $43,884,904 |
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What You'll Learn
Will Ferrell's performance in Semi-Pro
In Semi-Pro, Ferrell plays Jackie Moon, the owner, coach, and player of the fictional American Basketball Association team, the Flint Tropics (or Flint Michigan Tropics). The team is failing, and Moon is determined to make their NBA dreams come true. Ferrell's character is also famous for the ageing disco hit "Love Me Sexy", which he performs in the film.
Ferrell's performance in the film has been described as "top form", and his character as a washed-up singer who spends ridiculous amounts of money is considered a good premise. However, some viewers felt that more could have been done with his character, and the sports-movie plot felt overdone.
One of the most notable scenes featuring Ferrell is when his character wrestles a 7+1⁄2-foot-tall grizzly bear named Rocky to promote his basketball team. This scene required a stunt double and unfortunately resulted in the death of the stuntman's cousin and fellow trainer, Stephan Miller, who was killed by the bear during a later promotional event for the film.
Despite the mixed reviews for the film as a whole, Ferrell's performance in Semi-Pro was generally seen as a highlight, with some considering it one of his better performances. However, there was also a sense of "Ferrell fatigue" at the time, with some critics and viewers feeling that his "man-child" character had become overdone.
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Jackie Moon and the Flint Tropics
In the 2008 sports comedy film *Semi-Pro*, Will Ferrell stars as Jackie Moon, the owner, head coach, and player of the fictional American Basketball Association (ABA) team, the Flint Tropics. The film is set during the final season of the ABA and tells the story of the Flint Tropics, a failing basketball team desperate to survive the league's merger with the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Jackie Moon is a singer and showman who, in 1976, uses the profits from his one-hit-wonder disco song "Love Me Sexy" to buy the Flint Tropics. He becomes the team's owner, head coach, starting power forward, and pre-game announcer. The Flint Tropics are the worst team in the ABA and are in danger of dissolving following the league's merger with the NBA. However, Jackie argues that the teams with the four best records should be merged, and the commissioner accepts.
To boost attendance and promote his team, Jackie engages in various wacky promotions, including 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. With Monix's training and the increased intensity of the Tropics' best player, Clarence Withers, the team goes on a winning streak, moving from last to fifth place.
Despite their improved performance, the NBA does not think that Flint has a large enough media market and will not allow the Tropics into the league. Jackie trades Withers to the Spurs so that he can fulfil his dream of playing in the NBA. The Tropics, inspired by Monix, go on to win their final game of the season, sparking wild celebrations in the arena and the streets of Flint.
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Semi-Pro's critical reception
Will Ferrell's basketball-themed film, Semi-Pro, received generally negative reviews from critics. The film, which was released in 2008, is an American sports comedy and was the directorial debut of Kent Alterman. It stars Ferrell as Jackie Moon, the owner, coach, and player of the fictional American Basketball Association team, the Flint Tropics.
Reviews criticised the script, calling the film a "half-hearted attempt at sports satire" that was ""intermittently funny". Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave Semi-Pro 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 states:
> "Semi-Pro is an intermittently funny, half-hearted attempt at sports satire, and one of Will Ferrell's weaker cinematic efforts."
Metacritic reported an average score of 47 out of 100 based on 29 reviews. While Ferrell's performance received praise, critics felt that the premise of a washed-up singer spending a lot of money on a sports team had been done before and "sadly done better". One review noted that the film only "managed a good laugh now and again", and that the Super Bowl ads were "funnier than the movie itself".
Despite the negative reviews, Semi-Pro still performed well at the box office, grossing $15 million in its opening weekend in the United States and Canada.
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The film's notable scenes
Will Ferrell's basketball film, *Semi-Pro*, is a sports comedy centred around a fictional basketball team called the Flint Tropics (or the Flint City Tropics). It was released in 2008 and is set in the 1970s during the final season of the American Basketball Association (ABA).
The film follows Jackie Moon, the eccentric owner, coach, and player of the Tropics, who is a flamboyant entertainer. When the team faces financial difficulties and the threat of the ABA-NBA merger, Jackie Moon comes up with a wild plan to boost attendance at their games: he announces that if the Tropics finish in the top four teams of the league, they will survive.
The film includes a series of absurd and comical situations, from outlandish halftime shows to eccentric promotional stunts. One notable scene involves a fist fight that breaks out on the court. Another notable scene features a 7-foot-tall, 700-pound grizzly bear named Rocky, which Will Ferrell's character wrestles to promote his team. Unfortunately, the bear killed one of its trainers after the film's release.
The film also includes a cast of well-known actors, including Woody Harrelson, André 3000, Will Arnett, Andy Richter, Maura Tierney, David Koechner, and Rob Corddry. Despite the poor reviews from critics, *Semi-Pro* is a blend of sports excitement and Will Ferrell's comedic genius, providing entertainment for sports fans and movie enthusiasts alike.
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The soundtrack of Semi-Pro
The 2008 film Semi-Pro starring Will Ferrell features a soundtrack with a variety of artists. The soundtrack includes 14 songs from various artists, including the hilarious "Love Me Sexy" sung by Will Ferrell himself, as well as songs by Curtis Mayfield, Sly and the Family Stone, and Elijah Kelley.
The song "Mr. Big Stuff" by Jean Knight is featured in the movie when the team is on their bus and when they are in the dressing room after a fight. The movie also includes the song "Move On Up" written and performed by Curtis Mayfield, and "Shining Star" written by Philip Bailey, Larry Dunn, and Maurice White, and performed by Elijah Kelley.
Other songs in the soundtrack include "Lady Marmalade" by LaBelle, "Tell Me Something Good" by Ronnie Laws, and "Anyone Ooooh Anyone" by Theodore Shapiro, which is played during the opening scenes. The song "Anyone Ooooh Anyone" is also featured during the end credits of the film.
The Semi-Pro soundtrack has something for everyone, with a mix of disco and 70s hits that complement the film's fun and entertaining tone.
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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. 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' also stars Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin, Maura Tierney, Will Arnett, David Koechner, Andy Richter, Rob Corddry, DeRay Davis, and Andy Daly.
'Semi-Pro' has a score of 23% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Some other Will Ferrell movies that are similar to 'Semi-Pro' include Anchorman, Talladega Nights, and Blades of Glory.
