RIBALD HUMOR IS A SLAM-DUNK IN 'SEMI-PRO'.Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic The Flint Tropics basketball team has its share of problems. Owner Jackie Moon (Will Ferrell John William "Will" Ferrell (born July 16, 1967[1]) is an Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated American comedian, impressionist, writer and actor who first established himself as a cast member of Saturday Night Live, ), who also happens to be the head coach and power forward, admits he isn't an X's and O's tactician. His forte is promotions, though even those Bill Veeck-style efforts tend to be more miss than hit. (Witness the fallout from "Dime Beer Night.") Moon's biggest problem -- besides the way those tight short shorts make his thighs look a little bulgy (the kind of dilemma Ferrell revels in) -- is that this is 1976 and the American Basketball Association
U.S. professional basketball league. It was formed in 1949 by the merger of two rival organizations, the National Basketball League (founded 1937) and the Basketball Association of America (1946). . The woeful woe·ful also wo·ful adj. 1. Affected by or full of woe; mournful. 2. Causing or involving woe. 3. Deplorably bad or wretched: Tropics aren't likely to make the cut. What will happen to Jackie and the Tropics bikini-clad ball girls, the ones with the "big, bouncy, jiggly hearts"? That's the set-up for Ferrell's latest sports comedy, "Semi-Pro," a pretty funny, but fairly unrealized effort that falls somewhere between "Talladega Nights" and "Blades of Glory" on the laugh-o-meter. With its R rating, "Semi-Pro" is slightly more ribald rib·ald adj. Characterized by or indulging in vulgar, lewd humor. n. A vulgar, lewdly funny person. [From Middle English ribaud, ribald person, from Old French, from than these earlier efforts, though outside of a few F-bombs, a fully clothed clothe tr.v. clothed or clad , cloth·ing, clothes 1. To put clothes on; dress. 2. To provide clothes for. 3. To cover as if with clothing. sex scene and a poker game that turns into a salute to "The Deer Hunter" (the movie's most inspired bit), the movie doesn't push the envelope in the manner of "Knocked Up" or "Superbad." Ferrell stays well within his game -- speaking softly and then breaking into raging tirades, showing off his doughy body for comic effect and generally acting stupid. There are some truly funny moments, including the scene where Moon wrestles Dewey the Killer Bear and the time he tries to hold down his team's score so fans can't cash in on Corndog Night. (Shades of Noun 1. shades of - something that reminds you of someone or something; "aren't there shades of 1948 here?" reminder - an experience that causes you to remember something those free tacos at Lakers games?) The movie's best moments belong to Ferrell's teammates. Sixteen years after "White Men Can't Jump  This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling.You can assist by [ editing it] now. ," Woody Harrelson proves he still has game, playing the aging point guard brought in help the Tropics stave off extinction. Andre Benjamin brings genuine soul to the team's star player who starts off resembling a ball-hogging World B. Free type and ends up learning the meaning of Jackie Moon's team motto -- Everybody Love Everybody. This being the '70s, Jackie's slogan works on a couple of levels. So does "Semi-Pro." What's next, Will? Mixed martial arts For the fighting styles that combine different arts, see . Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a combat sport in which a wide variety of fighting techniques are used, including striking and grappling. ? Glenn Whipp, (818) 713-3672 glenn.whipp(at)dailynews.com SEMI-PRO - Three stars >R: language, some sexual content. >Starring: Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, Andre Benjamin. >Director: Kent Alterman. >Running time: 1 hr. 30 min. >Playing: Area wide. >In a nutshell: Ferrell's latest sports comedy rates somewhere between "Talladega Nights" and "Blades of Glory." CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Jackie Moon (Will Ferrell) tries every angle to save his foundering Flint Tropics in "Semi-Pro." |
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