Not Ferrell's best work, but still pretty funny

Rating: 7/10 (2 March 2008)

Another Will Ferrell sports movie. Sigh, right? Personally, I think the guy's funny. And I think his vehicles are funnier than most comedies being made right now. The previous one, Blades of Glory, I thought was completely undervalued. Semi-Pro, unfortunately, is a step down. It's not bad, to be sure. I laughed plenty, and I'd give it a moderate recommendation. Ferrell fans should definitely take it in. They won't be sorry they did. But there just aren't enough great jokes to make it a must-see comedy. And you know that when there aren't a ton of great jokes 90% of the good ones you've already seen in the commercials. There's a lot of half-baked material, too. I think, for instance, that Will Arnet's character was particularly hilarious, but they just don't give him enough to do. Ditto Matt Walsh, who plays a pastor moonlighting as a referee. Good jokes to be made there, but they are given a pass.