Semi-Pro is an odd film in that it follows the recent trend for goofball, adolescent comedies, without really conforming to the formula established by previous films to have recently appeared in that genre.
The very basic plot is that of a basketball team struggling against the odds to survive in a league they're not really cut out for; a staple of sports films. But added to this mix are the crazy antics of Will Ferrell and his special brand of arrogant humour and sweet naivety. He stands out in this film for being the only actor to really go all out with the comedy, whereas most of the other characters play it fairly straight, albeit in absurd situations.
The straightest of them all is Woody Harrelson, the tragic professional who finds a new lease of life by straightening out the team of misfits, whilst reconciling his personal difficulties. The focus on his story is stolen repeatedly by Ferrell's introduction of playfulness, camaraderie and love for your fellow man, at the expense of any real tactics. By the films end these two characters and their respective skills are brought together to create a warm and loving group of men playing their hearts out to achieve the impossible.
Where this film really strays from the norm is the absence of a strong female character. Typically, the adolescence of the male protagonist and his bunch of puerile friends is straightened out by the love of a good, mature woman ('Anchorman', 'The 40 Year Old Virgin', etc.), who updates their chauvinist views whilst maintaining an obtainable sexuality. The woman's role in this film is taken on by Harrelson, as the serious player who convinces his teammates that they can achieve real success, beyond wacky dance routines and bear wrestling designed purely for audience entertainment (Ferrell's speciality). The fact that there is a woman in Harrelson's personal life that drives his focus on success is pushed into the background to make way for more jokes of this kind.
The laughs come easy, especially with the opportunities presented by an arbitrary collection of players that make up the Flint, Michigan Tropics (potentially the most unexciting prospect in basketball of all time). The humour, however, is far from sophisticated, and no one's going to laugh more than once at the big Lithuanian who can't understand English. On other occasions the comedy feels a little tacked onto the main action. There is a lengthy poker scene between Ferrell and some members of the Tropics' extended family that contributes nothing to the narrative but provides the opportunity for some ludicrous, racial jokes ("Did you call me a Jive Turkey?") and a very tense moment when a handgun is being carelessly passed around and fired. Similarly, when Harrelson finally becomes intimate again with his love interest, the moment is pointlessly ruined by her retarded brother (?) watching them quite openly, disturbing any ideas of mature romantic relationships.
Nevertheless, there are some moments that made me laugh out loud, such as Ferrell screaming "I'm so happy I can't feel my arms" as he flails them from side to side, or when the team is dressed up in various 'tropical' costumes, with Ferrell as the sun, for some pre-game entertainment. It's not a classic though, and is only really worth watching for some more enjoyable madness from Ferrell.
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