I don’t think there’s much argument that Will Ferrell is the comic actor of the moment. The guy is everywhere, whether online at FunnyOrDie.com, performing live during his current FunnyOrDie comedy tour, making various cameos in a number of movies and television shows, or commanding the big screen in his zany features. The latest venture is Semi-Pro and it shares a lot in common with previous Ferrell fare Talladega Nights and Blades of Glory.

Ferrell plays Jackie Moon, a one-hit wonder whose hit song gave him the funds to buy the local ABA basketball team, the Flint, Michigan Tropics. Moon’s first move as owner is to name himself both the team’s coach and star player. When Jackie learns that the league is planning a merger with the NBA and only four teams will survive, he convinces the board of owners that it should be the four best teams in the league regardless of fan base.

Unfortunately for Jackie, not only does he have no fan base, but his team is also in last place and showing no signs of improvement. Enter Monix, a veteran point guard—received in a trade involving a washing machine—who spent time on a Boston Celtics championship team. Monix gives the team that clichéd speech about how they will never be a true team unless they learn to play together, and he is made the head coach; well, actually he’s the offensive and defensive coordinator because Moon’s ego won’t allow for anyone else to be head coach.

In true Major League fashion the team begins winning and makes a late charge towards fourth place. But does the NBA really want a team from Flint, Michigan with no fan base?

Ferrell is always hit-or-miss for me and unfortunately Semi-Pro is more Blades of Glory than Talladega Nights. Ferrell is in rare form here, constantly frantic and way over the top. His shtick is sometimes hilarious, often annoying, more-than-often disgusting and occasionally boring.

The film’s director is Kent Alterman, a first time director, and it’s likely he gave his star too much freedom. This is obvious in multiple one-joke scenes that try for more and fail.

It almost felt as if I were watching two separate films. There’s the classic—or cliché, if you will—sports underdog film in which a new coach comes in and teaches a bunch of selfish show-offs how to play as a team… and then there’s the Will Ferrell movie which is like a crazy stand-up act. Think of some of the lesser Robin Williams comedies and you’ll know exactly what I mean.

When I first saw that Woody Harrelson was costarring as Monix, I was intrigued—thinking this would be an opportunity for the actor to bring back the comic genius of Kingpin, and that he and Ferrell would play off of each other nicely. Unfortunately, it is probably the actor’s worst performance in years. He plays the role so seriously and straight-forward that he just gets dominated by Ferrell’s zaniness. He seems very miscast and was probably just as bored as he appeared to be. The romance between Monix and Maura Tierney’s Lynn is also very dull and feels forced.

There were many points in the film where I couldn’t help but burst into laughter, but those moments seem to be getting fewer in fewer in every new Will Ferrell movie. It’s definitely time for the actor to follow the paths of Jim Carrey or the aforementioned Robin Williams and expand his repertoire a bit. After all, even Charlie Chaplin had to stop being the Tramp at some point.

Semi-Pro is rated R for “language and some sexual content.” “Language” refers not just to certain taboo words, but just the general filthy nature of the language in this film. Aside from one particularly racy scene, the sexual content is mostly contained in the language.

Courtesy of a local publicist, Jeff attended a promotional screening of Semi-Pro.