Semi-Pro

2008

Semi-Pro

Critics Consensus

Semi-Pro is an intermittently funny, half-hearted attempt at sports satire, and one of Will Ferrell's weaker cinematic efforts.

23%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 160

38%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 290,648
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Semi-Pro Photos

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Movie Info

The American Basketball Association is on the verge of collapse, and when a former NBA benchwarmer returns to his hometown of Flint, MI, to whip his former team into shape for the playoffs, redemption is just a free throw away in this period sports comedy starring Will Ferrell and Woody Harrelson. Penned by Old School scribe Scot Armstrong, Semi-Pro tells the tale of a 1970s-era basketball player who doesn't have much luck in the NBA, but vows to leave his mark on the sport by coaching the Flint Tropics. When the upstart ABA league agrees to be absorbed by the NBA, only four teams will be allowed in. Jackie Moon (Ferrell) must orchestrate a successful season both on the court, and financially off the court with the help of many odd promotional events, in order to remain in the sport he loves. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
  • Rating:
    R (for language and some sexual content)
  • Genre:
    Comedy
  • Directed By:
    Kent Alterman
  • Written By:
    Scot Armstrong
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $33,370,443
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    New Line Cinema

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Cast

Will Ferrell
as Jackie Moon
Woody Harrelson
as Monix
André Benjamin
as Clarence
Maura Tierney
as Lynn
Andrew Daly
as Dick Pepperfield
Will Arnett
as Lou Redwood
Andy Richter
as Bobby Dee
David Koechner
as Commissioner
Andre 3000
Rob Corddry
as Kyle
Matt Walsh
as Father Pat the Ref
Jackie Earle Haley
as Dukes
DeRay Davis
as Bee Bee Ellis
Josh Braaten
as Twiggy Munson
Jay Phillips
as Scootsie Double Day
Peter Cornell
as Vakidis
Pat Kilbane
as Petrelli
Patti LaBelle
as Jackie's Mom
Tim Meadows
as Cornelius Banks
Jason Sudeikis
as Nacho Fan
Kristen Wiig
as Bear Handler
Ellia English
as Ms. Quincy
Phil Hendrie
as Nets Coach
Ed Helms
as Turtleneck
Brian Huskey
as White Pants
Charlyne Yi
as Wheelchair Jody
Allison Jones
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Critic Reviews for Semi-Pro

All Critics (160) | Top Critics (39) | Fresh (36) | Rotten (124)

  • The semifunny Semi-Pro is amiable enough, but you never feel there's much at stake.

    Mar 31, 2008 | Full Review…

    David Ansen

    Newsweek
    Top Critic

  • Judging from this low-scoring sports comedy about the mystique of men with balls, Will Ferrell needs to call a time-out from belly baring to refocus his fan-favorite game of playing clueless male doofuses.

    Mar 6, 2008 | Rating: C- | Full Review…

    Lisa Schwarzbaum

    Entertainment Weekly
    Top Critic

  • You take the Will Ferrell formula and you plug it in, but somehow it just feels kind of uninspired and flat.

    Mar 3, 2008

    Richard Roeper

    Ebert & Roeper
    Top Critic

  • There are some ludicrous sight gags and uniquely silly, if foul-mouthed, laughs. The movie falters when it tries to be serious. Fortunately, those moments are few.

    Feb 29, 2008 | Rating: 2.5/4

    Claudia Puig

    USA Today
    Top Critic

  • You can't help but marvel, and laugh at, Ferrell's indefatigable enthusiasm and willingness to make a complete ass of himself.

    Feb 29, 2008 | Rating: 3/4

    Peter Howell

    Toronto Star
    Top Critic

  • I laughed from start to finish at its relentlessly, energetically profane absurdity and a cast crammed with funny actors in even the smallest roles.

    Feb 29, 2008 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    Mark Rahner

    Seattle Times
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (160)

Audience Reviews for Semi-Pro

  • Jan 22, 2014
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon13.gif[/img]
    Directors C Super Reviewer
  • Sep 14, 2012
    More like semi-funny. Good thing Will Ferrell made up for this flop with Step Brothers right after.
    Eric A Super Reviewer
  • Dec 02, 2011
    Semi Pro is funny and has a bit of heart, and I love Will Ferell, but this film was boring and nothing really happens. Jackie Moon (Will Ferell) is a coach for an ABA team and when he and his team is offered a chance into the NBA, Jackie must pull all his strings to get his team from last place and into the Top 4. The plot is very basic, very boring, but the characters (although screwballs) have good hearts and the writers did a good job there. Will Ferell is the show stealer as usual, he is just naturally funny and stupid, and I loved him. Woody Harrelson actually was pretty awesome, his character was cool, smart, and actually had a backround, but he wasn't very funny. There is a few cast members who were funny, and a few who were not, and although Woody wasn't very funny, he and Will Ferell were my favorite. The jokes were okay, the scene with the bear was pure gold but most of the movie has a good joke every like 10 minutes, which made it not as funny as I hoped, mostly just a lot of lazy jokes. Overall it was funny, had good characters, but it didn't have a good story and the great jokes took a long time to happen, but still a comedy people will laugh at, and the scenes with the bear are hilarious.
    Bradley W Super Reviewer
  • Sep 14, 2011
    Skip it, even if you are a Will Ferrell fan, it's hard to get through this at all.
    Chris B Super Reviewer
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