Ayrton Oneill
Will Ferrell's 2008 sports comedy film Semi-Pro features a naked promotional photo of the actor, inspired by a real-life Kentucky Colonels poster of ABA player Wendell Ladner. In the film, Ferrell's character, Jackie Moon, owns, coaches, and plays for the fictional basketball team, the Flint Tropics. Ferrell is known for his comedic roles, particularly those with a sports theme, and has no qualms about showing some skin for a laugh, as seen in his famous naked run in Old School.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Film | Semi-Pro |
| Year | 2008 |
| Genre | Sports comedy |
| Director | Kent Alterman |
| Writer | Scot Armstrong |
| Producer | Jimmy Miller |
| Stars | Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, André 3000 (credited as André Benjamin), and Maura Tierney |
| Setting | Final season of the American Basketball Association |
| Story | A fictional ABA team desperate to survive the league's merger with the NBA |
| Based on | A real-life Kentucky Colonels poster giveaway of ABA player Wendell Ladner (aka "Mr. Excitement") |
Explore related products
$25.99
What You'll Learn
- Will Ferrell's nude promotional photo for the 2008 film *Semi-Pro*
- The real-life Kentucky Colonels poster of Wendell Ladner that inspired Ferrell's photo
- Ferrell's other sports-themed films, including *Talladega Nights* and *Blades of Glory*
- Ferrell's wrestling match with a bear in *Semi-Pro*
- The film's critical reception and box office performance
Will Ferrell's nude promotional photo for the 2008 film *Semi-Pro*
In the film, Moon is a one-hit-wonder singer famous for the ageing disco hit "Love Me Sexy". Ferrell's character has a catchphrase: "Let's get tropical". The film is set in the 1970s in Flint, Michigan, and captures the mood of a freewheeling comedy from that era, using profanity and racy situations that aren't as common in Ferrell's PG-13 fare.
Ferrell has no qualms about revealing his flesh, as he has shown in previous films such as *Old School*, in which he goes for a naked run through the streets. In the *Semi-Pro* trailer, Ferrell is stretched out like a Playgirl pinup, wearing only a discreetly placed basketball and a headband. The film also features a scene in which Ferrell wrestles a bear.
Semi-Pro was directed by Kent Alterman and stars Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, André 3000 (credited as André Benjamin), and Maura Tierney. It was released in theatres on 19 February 2008 and received generally negative reviews from critics, who criticised the script. However, Ferrell's performance received praise.
The Real Story: Jen and Jelani's Relationship Status
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The real-life Kentucky Colonels poster of Wendell Ladner that inspired Ferrell's photo
Will Ferrell's nude promotional photo for his 2008 sports comedy "Semi-Pro" was inspired by a real-life Kentucky Colonels poster featuring Wendell Ladner, also known as "Mr. Excitement". In the photo, Ferrell is stretched out, wearing only a discreetly placed basketball and a headband.
Ladner was an American professional basketball player, playing in the American Basketball Association (ABA) from 1970 to 1975. Standing at 6 ft 5 in and weighing 220 pounds, he was one of the more notorious enforcers of the ABA, protecting players like Dan Issel of the Kentucky Colonels and Julius Erving of the New York Nets. Ladner was known as an "overgrown kid" who had a two-track mind—basketball and sex. He was also particular about his appearance, using hair spray before games and during halftime to look good for the ladies.
The idea for the Wendell Ladner hairy-chest poster was inspired by Burt Reynolds' famous Cosmopolitan photoshoot. According to Dave Vance, the Kentucky Colonels' general manager, "Wendell's posters sold out in a day." Ladner himself saw Reynolds as a role model, stating that he "wanted to be Burt Reynolds with a basketball." Thus, Ferrell's photo can be seen as an imitation of Ladner, who was imitating Reynolds.
In "Semi-Pro," Ferrell plays Jackie Moon, a one-hit-wonder singer who owns, coaches, and plays for the fictional American Basketball Association team, the Flint Tropics. The movie captures the freewheeling comedy style of the 1970s, with profanity and racy situations, while also including typical Ferrell touches, such as absurd lines and physical comedy, like wrestling a bear.
The Height Advantage of Will Hartzell on the Basketball Court
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Ferrell's other sports-themed films, including *Talladega Nights* and *Blades of Glory*
Will Ferrell has starred in several sports-themed films, including the NASCAR-themed "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" and the figure skating-centric "Blades of Glory".
In "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby", Ferrell plays an immature yet successful NASCAR driver named Ricky Bobby. The film also stars John C. Reilly, Sacha Baron Cohen, Gary Cole, Michael Clarke Duncan, Leslie Bibb, Jane Lynch, and Amy Adams. NASCAR drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jamie McMurray also made cameos in the film. Released in 2006, the film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $163.4 million worldwide.
"Blades of Glory", released in 2007, stars Ferrell and Jon Heder as a mismatched pair of banned figure skaters who become teammates. The film also features Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, William Fichtner, Jenna Fischer, and Craig T. Nelson. Ferrell's dialogue in the film was largely improvised, with 88.773% of his lines changed to suit his comedic persona. "Blades of Glory" received generally positive reviews from critics and was a box office success, grossing $145 million worldwide.
In addition to "Talladega Nights" and "Blades of Glory", Ferrell has also starred in other sports-themed films such as "Semi-Pro", a basketball comedy set in the 1970s, and "Kicking and Screaming", where he coached a kids' soccer team. Ferrell seems to have a penchant for sports-themed comedies, with his performances often praised for their comedic and absurd nature.
Understanding High School Basketball Quarters and Their Numbers
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Ferrell's wrestling match with a bear in *Semi-Pro*
In the 2008 sports comedy *Semi-Pro*, Will Ferrell plays Jackie Moon, a one-hit-wonder singer who owns, coaches, and plays for a financially shaky fictional American Basketball Association team called the Flint Tropics. In a bid to boost attendance in his NBA quest, Jackie wrestles a bear in the film.
The scene in question involves Ferrell's character wrestling a bear named Rocky in the middle of a basketball court, inside a raised platform cage similar to a boxing ring. In reality, the bear was actually an animatronic bear or a man in a bear suit whenever it was shown next to the actors. A stuntman filled in for Ferrell during any portion of the scene that used a live bear, and a remote camera was used to film these parts. The few cast and crew members who were needed on set were kept at a safe distance from the live bear, and people in the stands were replaced with mannequins. A “hotline” fence surrounded the platform, and the head trainer stood just off-camera, cueing Rocky to perform various actions.
For the portion of the scene in which Jackie throws punches near the bear’s face, the costumed head trainer stood in for the actor, and a hotline was placed between the trainer and the bear. The trainer also pantomimed being slapped by Jackie and did not make actual contact. The trainer and the bear had a close relationship and were accustomed to this playful wrestling. When the trainer fell to the ground in a choreographed fall, the bear “fell” on top of him and continued play-wrestling. After the scene was filmed, the bear was cued to walk down the platform’s stairs and go back to his holding cage, which he did with no hesitation.
Tragically, Rocky the bear killed his trainer, Stephan Miller, by biting him in the neck during rehearsals for the film. Three experienced handlers were working with the grizzly at the time, and pepper spray was used to subdue the bear and contain him. Paramedics arriving shortly after the initial emergency call were unable to revive Miller.
CIAA Basketball Tournament: History, Teams, and More
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The film's critical reception and box office performance
The 2008 sports comedy Semi-Pro, starring Will Ferrell, received generally negative reviews from critics. The film has an approval score of 23% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 4.5/10. Metacritic reported an average score of 47 out of 100, based on 29 reviews. Critics described the film as an "intermittently funny, half-hearted attempt at sports satire" and one of Ferrell's "weaker cinematic efforts". The script was criticized, although Ferrell's performance received praise.
Despite the negative reviews, the film performed well at the box office. In its opening weekend, the film grossed $15 million in 3,121 theatres in the United States and Canada, reaching number one at the box office. However, this was considered a "lacklustre" opening compared to Ferrell's previous sports comedies Talladega Nights, which opened with $47 million, and Blades of Glory, which opened with $33 million. Semi-Pro went on to gross $33,479,698 domestically, $10,405,206 internationally, and a total of $43,884,904 worldwide.
The NAIA Basketball Tournament: A Historical Overview
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The poster is from the 2008 sports comedy film *Semi-Pro*.
Ferrell played Jackie Moon, the owner, player and coach of the fictional basketball team the Flint Tropics.
*Semi-Pro* tells the story of a fictional American Basketball Association team desperate to survive the league's merger with the NBA.
Yes, the poster was based on a real-life Kentucky Colonels giveaway poster of ABA player Wendell Ladner, also known as "Mr Excitement".
Ferrell has starred in several sports films, including *Talladega Nights* and *Blades of Glory*, as well as *Kicking and Screaming* and *Daddy's Home*.
