More Than Semi.

Rating: 9/10 (12 May 2015)

Semi-Pro (2008): Dir: Kent Alterman / Cast: Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin, Maura Tierney, Will Arnett: Hilarious sports comedy starring Will Ferrell as promoter Jackie Moon who's basketball team sucks. Washed up player Ed Monix shows up to help them. As with Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Semi-Pro counters formula by creating interesting characters. The results are very funny with director Kent Alterman doing a terrific job with the pop culture references. This is Alterman's first film as director and he is backed by fine comic performances. Ferrell plays a show boat who desperately wishes to regain the spotlight he once had. He will stoop to wrestling a bear to gain an audience. Woody Harrelson is well cast as Monix who isn't satisfied with his past but will assist Ferrell and his team as if to correct his problem by solving another. Andre Benjamin portrays the one player worth his salt but he is sought after by another major team. Maura Tierney plays Monix's ex-girlfriend whose husband enjoys being a cuckold. Will Arnett steals scenes as an alcoholic colour commentator. The one big flaw is that the outcome is predictable. We know that Ferrell will score, Harrelson will mend, Benjamin will return, Arnett will drink while calling the event, and Tierney will be the cheating married woman. Rewarding comedy that scores big on it's 70's sports references. Score: 9 / 10