Iffy for 15+
No huge laughs in Ferrell's foul-mouthed comedy.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that lots of kids are huge fans of Will Ferrell comedies, particularly the goofy sports ones. This one has more strong language than some of Ferrell's other movies (nearly every scene includes some creative use of "f--k" and its many derivatives), as well as the requisite sex jokes (including one sex scene between a mostly dressed couple) and outrageous behavior (fighting a bear to promote a basketball game). There's also an aggressive off-screen promotion in which Ferrell's character pitches Old Spice and Bud Light in commercials.
- Families can talk about whether this comedy follows the Hollywood formula for sports movies. Despite the raunchy jokes, isn't this more or less a typical underdog story? What is Monix's message about professional sports? To him, is it more important to be an NBA hotshot or to love playing basketball? Why do you think this movie got an R rating, while many of Ferrell's other sports comedies have been PG-13? Is it just the strong language? Does swearing make a movie funnier, or is it distracting?
What to watch for
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Violence: A few scenes of the Tropics getting into fights with other teams. A bear runs loose and attacks a couple of people, but in a humorous way. There's also an extended gun-play scene where characters take turns pointing and shooting what they think is an unloaded handgun at each other.
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Sex: Monix discusses cheating on his ex-girlfriend with two girls in one night. Monix and Lynn have sex (mostly dressed) on a couch. When Lynn's significant other catches them, he's unexpectedly aroused; he sits down to watch and then unbuckles his belt (masturbation is implied, but not shown). Jackie tells the Tropics cheerleaders he wishes he had slept with some of them. Jackie tells the audience a player is proudly "VD free." Someone is called a "boner machine."
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Language: Nearly every sentence includes "f--k" or a derivative (including the one that starts with "mother"). Other words said very often include "c--k," "c--ksucker," "ass," "a--hole," "s--t," "d--k," "bitch," etc.
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Consumerism: Not that much in the movie: Cadillac, the ABA, and the NBA. But in real life, Ferrell's character is endorsing products like Bud Light and Old Spice.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Characters are shown smoking and drinking in many, many scenes. Most of the alcohol is hard liquor, with a few beers thrown in the mix. One fan who's called a "dirty hippie" looks high.
Fan Reviews provided by
4
semi pro by tokz_21
Will Ferrell stars as Jackie Moon, a one hit wonder singer, who owns the Flint, Michigan Tropics; who are the worst team in the ABA. The league is going bankrupt and decides to take a buyout from the NBA but only 4 teams are going and guess what it's not the Tropics. Jackie doesn't want to disappoint his players or his momma, who according to Jackie wanted him to buy the Tropics. So, he goes on a mission to save the fledgeling team from obsecurity by holding crazy promotions to beef up attendance, like whoever hits the Moonshot ( 3/4 of the court) wins 10,000 dollars, if the Tropics score 125 the fans get free corndogs, and the infamous wrestling with a bear. With fans filling the stands the only thing left to fix is the team's losing ways, so Jackie trades his washing machine for
Ed Monix (Woody Harrelson) a washed up NBA player to try to put the team over the top. This movie is hilarious! If you are a fan of Will Ferrell you will definitely enjoy this movie. 3.0 out of 4.
3
Matt Johnsons Review of Semi Pro by whodini
I thought it was very funny, had a lot of wit and there was very good and relevant music in it. But the storyline was a little dull. Will Ferrall is absolutely hilarious, as always but this definately wasn't his best work, Old School, and Talladega Nights were both hands down better. I would overall rate this movie about a 7 out of 10.
4
Semi-Funny by jcl_0825
I thought the movie had some very funny parts especially the poker/gun scene that was hilarious. But I also felt the movie dragged, any part that had Woody Harrelson was boring. Semi-Pro is definetly the most crude of Will Ferrels latest movies. It was hard for me to decide between a so-so rating and the go rating because its really somewhere in between.
3
Feeling a bit predictable by lippert
I loved Talledega Nights, but missed Blades of Glory, but Semi-Pro already feels a bit formulaic; not sure how much more mileage even a comic genius like Will Ferrell can wring out of the 1970s and egotistical sports stars. I took my sons and was mostly worried about the R rating, which is due primarily to bucket-loads of profanity (and one brief sex scene), and was less bummed by the inappropriate language and raunchy bits than by the fact that this is, on the whole, simply a mediocre movie for Will Ferrell fans only. The trailer for Stepbrothers almost offered more laughs...
4
you get what you expect then are disappointed....... by cmarion8
Entertaining, normal funny parts expected from a Will Farrell movie. Distracting is Woody Harrelson and the way he has aged and that weird hair they put on him. Expectations hurt the rating of this movie, as if Will should be funnier or the plot should be more complex. You get what you expect.
1
Will Ferrells worst movie. ever. by I see every movie out
i wanted to cry about a half hour into this film. concidering anchorman and old school are a couple of my favorite movies. i could not belive how horrible it was, concidering Will Ferrell was advertising it alllll ovvvver the place. he was on the today show, sportcenter, and everyother commecial on tnt was for semi pro. i am shocked. dont waste your money on this garbage.
1
Semi Ridiculous by mamaarndt
Skip it! I'm a huge Will Ferrell fan, but this is the biggest sellout ever. Ferrell has managed to play the same character in the past three films - on wheels, on ice skates and now the basketball court - and it's still not funny.
I never thought I'd hear myself saying thisk, but Ferrell needs to take a break. A long one at that.
I'd even go so far as suggesting that you don't even bother to rent it on DVD - wait until it comes out on TBS in 2009.
3
Funny parts were all in previews. by powerfunk
Very mediocre. You never really develop much of a connection with any of the characters, like you do in, say, Anchorman. If you expect a lot, you'll be let down. It has its moments, though...a few.
5
semi-pro is right up there with anchorman and old school by Hanna_Banana
love it love it love it!! Jackie Moon is awesome
4
Better than Expected by aaronb23
We have to accept the fact that no Will Farrell movie will every live up to Anchorman. That was by far the funniest movie he's ever done or will ever do. Just like Jim Carey and Dumb and Dumber. However, this is one of his better ones. I read a lot of people on here complaining about how "horrible" the language was and truth be told, there are a lot of comedies out there with FAR worse language than this film. Sure, you can always do with less swearing, but I didn't think that it was so excessive that I couldn't enjoy the film. The humor was def Will Farrell and I had quite a few laugh out loud moments. Especially the camera angle during the free throw is to die for! Don't bring the kids but if you're a Will fan, you'll enjoy it! Go see it and laugh hard.