Semi-Pro
- 5.8
- Sport
- 2008
- 14+
a sports comedy film that follows Jackie Moon (Will Ferrell), a one-hit-wonder singer who owns, coaches, and plays for the Flint Tropics, a struggling American Basketball Association (ABA) team in the 1970s. When the ABA plans to merge with the NBA, only the top four teams will survive. Determined to save his team, Jackie recruits former NBA benchwarmer Monix (Woody Harrelson) and raw talent Clarence "Coffee" Black (André 3000) to turn the Tropics into a legitimate basketball powerhouse. With outlandish stunts, absurd coaching techniques, and hilarious antics, Semi-Pro is a wild ride of underdog perseverance, outrageous comedy, and nostalgic 70s basketball flair.
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Semi-Pro (2008) is a sports comedy that blends outrageous humor, nostalgic 1970s aesthetics, and an underdog basketball story into a chaotic yet entertaining film. Starring Will Ferrell as the flamboyant Jackie Moon, a washed-up one-hit wonder turned owner, coach, and player of the struggling American Basketball Association (ABA) team, the Flint Tropics, the film delivers a mix of absurd antics, slapstick comedy, and classic Ferrell improvisation. Directed by Kent Alterman, Semi-Pro plays on the outrageous nature of the ABA, known for its flashy showmanship and unorthodox play, before the league’s eventual merger with the NBA.
The film follows Jackie Moon, who used the money from his disco hit single, Love Me Sexy, to buy the Flint Tropics, a team at the bottom of the ABA standings. More concerned with his own celebrity than actual basketball, Jackie runs the team with over-the-top promotional stunts, such as bear wrestling, halftime giveaways, and ridiculous marketing gimmicks that fail to improve the Tropics' record. However, when the ABA announces its merger with the NBA, only the top four teams in the league will survive. Faced with the reality that his team is on the brink of extinction, Jackie must turn things around and prove that the Tropics belong in the big leagues.
To accomplish this, Jackie recruits former NBA benchwarmer Monix (Woody Harrelson), a washed-up but experienced point guard with a broken past. While Monix attempts to introduce real basketball strategies, Jackie’s ego and wild personality frequently derail progress. At the same time, Clarence "Coffee" Black (André 3000), the team’s most talented player, dreams of making it to the NBA but struggles to showcase his skills in Jackie’s circus-like environment. As the Tropics try to climb the standings, they endure ridiculous training regimens, bizarre in-game antics, and Jackie’s unpredictable leadership, making for a comedic yet heartwarming sports redemption story.
The film’s climax builds toward a pivotal game in which the Tropics must prove themselves as a legitimate team. With Jackie finally embracing real basketball tactics, the team pulls off a series of unexpected moves, showcasing teamwork, perseverance, and even some legitimate talent. However, in true Will Ferrell fashion, the humor never takes a backseat, with outrageous moments, absurd fights, and hilariously over-the-top performances from supporting cast members like Will Arnett and Andy Daly as eccentric sports commentators.
Semi-Pro ultimately delivers a mix of crude humor and sports nostalgia, capturing the chaos and unpredictability of the ABA era while poking fun at the larger-than-life personalities that made 1970s basketball so entertaining. Though it doesn’t reach the comedic heights of Ferrell’s other sports comedies like Talladega Nights or Blades of Glory, the film remains a cult favorite for fans of absurdist humor and retro basketball charm. Whether it's Jackie Moon’s ridiculous on-court antics, the memorable Love Me Sexy song, or the sheer spectacle of a team that refuses to go down quietly, Semi-Pro is a wild and entertaining ride that celebrates the underdog spirit with a heavy dose of laughs.