Andrew Pace
In 2008, Will Ferrell starred in the sports comedy film 'Semi-Pro', alongside Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin, and Maura Tierney. The film is set during the final season of the American Basketball Association and follows the fictional ABA team, the Flint Michigan Tropics, who are desperate to survive the league's merger with the NBA. Ferrell plays Jackie Moon, a one-hit-wonder singer who uses his profits to purchase a basketball team. 'Semi-Pro' received mixed reviews, with some praising Ferrell's performance while others criticised the script.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Film | Semi-Pro |
| Genre | Comedy, Sport |
| Year of Release | 2008 |
| Director | Kent Alterman |
| Writer | Scot Armstrong |
| Producer | Jimmy Miller |
| Starring | Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin, Maura Tierney, Will Arnett, David Koechner, Andy Richter, Rob Corddry, DeRay Davis, Jackie Earle Haley |
| Plot | 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. |
| Length | 1h 31m |
| Rating | R |
| Rating (IMDB) | 5.8 |
| Rating (Rotten Tomatoes) | 23% |
| Rating (Metacritic) | 47/100 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Will Ferrell's performance in Semi-Pro praised
Will Ferrell's performance in the 2008 sports comedy Semi-Pro received mixed reviews, with some critics praising his comedic performance as the film's only redeemable aspect. One review noted that while the film was not as funny as Anchorman or Dodgeball, Ferrell was "on top form". Another review praised Ferrell's performance, stating that it was all-pro.
In Semi-Pro, Ferrell portrays Jackie Moon, a one-hit-wonder-turned-owner, coach, and captain of the Flint Tropics, an ABA team facing financial ruin. Moon embarks on a journey to save the team from financial ruin and secure its merger into the NBA. Ferrell's portrayal of Moon includes wrestling a bear, staging bizarre marketing stunts, and delivering absurd motivational speeches.
Despite some positive reviews of Ferrell's performance, Semi-Pro was considered a critical and commercial flop, losing over $10 million at the box office. The film received generally negative reviews, with critics criticizing the script. However, some critics acknowledged that Ferrell's performance was a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster film.
One review noted that while the film had a strong cast, including Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin, and Maura Tierney, it was ultimately Ferrell's movie, with the other cast members providing a platform for his jokes. Another review praised Ferrell's ad-libbed lines and his ability to create crazy situations, stating that he made a complete fool of himself for his fans.
Overall, while Semi-Pro may not have been a critical success, Ferrell's performance as Jackie Moon was a highlight for many viewers and critics, showcasing his ability to deliver hilarious and memorable performances even in less-than-stellar films.
Understanding Basketball Scoring: Strategies for Success
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![4 Film Favorites: Will Ferrell (BD)(4FF) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91V7AO3cVhL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Semi-Pro's critical reception
The 2008 sports comedy film Semi-Pro received generally negative reviews from critics. The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval score of 22% based on 161 reviews, with an average rating of 4.5/10. Metacritic reported the film had 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 Will Ferrell's weaker cinematic efforts". While Ferrell's performance received praise, critics criticised the script, with one writing that the film's writer, Scot Armstrong, "really dropped the ball" and that director Kent Alterman "provides very little direction and appears content to let his lead ape at will for the camera". Another review noted that "the Super Bowl ads for this movie are funnier than the movie itself".
However, some critics found the film enjoyable. One review states that "even its flaws can be loved" and that "if you like [Ferrell's] screenplay or you need to watch a comedy to relax, try this". Another review calls the film "weird but good" and praises Ferrell's performance, noting that "you don't purchase tickets to Will Ferrell movies for their sweeping romantic storylines, but because he makes us laugh".
Illinois High School Basketball: Cancelled or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Semi-Pro (Let's Get Sweaty Edition) (2008) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61SKqkF8TcL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Jackie Moon's ownership of the Flint Michigan Tropics
In the 2008 comedy-sport film *Semi-Pro*, Will Ferrell stars as Jackie Moon, a singer and owner-coach-player of the American Basketball Association's Flint Michigan Tropics. Set in 1976, the film follows Jackie Moon's journey as he uses the profits from his only hit single, "Love Me Sexy", to buy the worst team in the league, the Flint Michigan Tropics, and attempts to turn their game around.
Jackie Moon is a showman who provides the citizens of Flint, Michigan, with a glimmer of hope. He is also married to Stacey, a very attractive Flint Tropics ball girl, and they have an open relationship. In addition to owning the team, Jackie is also the coach and power forward for the Tropics. He puts his energy into boosting attendance with wacky promotions like wrestling a bear, jumping over 47 feet of ball girls on roller skates, and providing free corn dogs if the Tropics score 125 points.
The film depicts 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. The Tropics are all but broke, and with the ABA and NBA announcing plans to merge, the franchise may fold. It is up to Jackie and the Tropics to turn their game around and slam-dunk their chance for survival.
The film received generally negative reviews, with criticism directed at the script, although Ferrell's performance was praised. Despite the reviews, the film features several memorable scenes, including Jackie Moon introducing a player from Lithuania, wrestling a bear, and making a granny-style free throw.
Jonesboro High School's Basketball Conference Membership
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Semi-Pro [Unrated Edition] - 1 Disc DVD](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A1zv0oqD-EL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The film's wrestling scene with a bear
In the 2008 sports comedy film Semi-Pro, Will Ferrell's character, Jackie Moon, owner-coach-player of the American Basketball Association's Flint Michigan Tropics, wrestles a bear to promote his basketball team. The bear, named Rocky, was a 5-year-old, 7-and-a-half-foot-tall (2.3 m), 700-pound (320 kg) male grizzly bear.
During the wrestling scene, anytime the bear is shown next to the actors, it was either an animatronic bear or a man in a bear suit. A stuntman filled in for Ferrell during any portion of the scene that used a live bear. The few cast and crew members who were needed on set were kept at a safe distance from the live bear, and a remote camera was used to capture the footage. People in the stands were replaced with mannequins, and a “hotline” fence surrounded the platform.
The bear's trainers, including Stephan Miller, cousin of Will Ferrell's stunt double, Randy Miller, brought Rocky to the set and placed him on his mark. The head trainer stood just off-camera and cued Rocky to perform various actions, such as sitting up, standing up, and opening his mouth, rewarding him after each action. When the actor appears to slap the bear’s face, the trainer pantomimed the slap without making actual contact. For the wrestling portion of the scene, the hotline was removed, and the bear was cued to mouth the costumed trainer’s wig and shoulder. The head trainer and the bear were accustomed to this type of playful wrestling, and the bear "fell" on top of the trainer during a choreographed fall. After the scene was filmed, the trainer cued the bear to walk down the platform’s stairs and return to his holding cage.
Tragically, seven weeks after the film's wide release, Rocky the bear bit and killed Stephan Miller.
Mastering the Art of a Consistent Basketball Shot
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Semi-Pro [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81dvdLVi47L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
![Semi-Pro [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61v-SfCNJTL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Semi-Pro's advertising and promotional activities
The 2008 sports comedy film Semi-Pro stars Will Ferrell as Jackie Moon, a singer who uses the profits from his only hit single to buy a basketball team, the Flint Michigan Tropics. The film also stars Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin, and Maura Tierney.
Reviews of the film mention an "aggressive off-screen promotion" in which Ferrell's character, Jackie Moon, endorses products like Bud Light and Old Spice in commercials. In addition to this, the film's advertising and promotion likely included more standard marketing activities such as trailers, TV spots, and print advertisements.
The film's promotional activities may also have included press junkets and interviews with the cast and crew, as well as screenings and premieres. Given the star power of Will Ferrell and the other cast members, their participation in publicity for the film would have been an important part of the promotion.
With the film being set in the 1970s, the promotional activities may also have leaned into the fashion and style of the era, with bellbottoms, flares, and big hair on display in the film's costumes and production design.
Understanding Basketball Scoring: Points and Strategies
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The name of the Will Ferrell film about basketball is *Semi-Pro*.
In *Semi-Pro*, Will Ferrell plays Jackie Moon, a one-hit-wonder singer who uses the profits from his only hit single to buy a basketball team, the Flint Michigan Tropics, the worst team in the league. The team is threatened by the impending merger of the ABA and NBA, and it's up to Jackie and the Tropics to turn their game around and survive.
*Semi-Pro* also stars Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin, Maura Tierney, Will Arnett, David Koechner, and Andy Richter.
*Semi-Pro* has a rating of 5.8 on IMDb and 23% on Rotten Tomatoes.
![Semi-Pro [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71ODgFLLurL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
