Dave and Thomas TV

Semi-pro is your standard Will Ferrell sports movie that (sadly) Ferrell seems stuck in making at the moment. For the die-hard Ferrell fans and SNL alum you'll enjoy the goofiness. For anyone who is passing on the flick because they think Semi-pro is a routine Will Ferrell comedy than your guess is correct. Semi-pro plays out like a water-downed Blades of Glory that substitutes the ice for the basketball court. It's failure is that tries too hard to be a sports movie with heart like Slap Shot and less like the mindless Will Ferrell skit it should be. Instead we are treated to a mix of Anchor Man and Talladega Nights without the guidance of Judd Apatow.

Sadly, there are not a lot of surprises that come out of Semi-pro. If you have seen the previews for the movie than you know everything there is to know about Jackie Moon and his attempt to get his ABA Flint Tropics into the NBA. You already know most of the punchlines, too. Basically it is 60 minutes of Will Ferrell acting over the top and cocky followed by a fall from grace and a last attempt for glory.

Even though I am a fan of Will, I do believe it is time he sat down and started to retool his empire. I hate to say it but the heaviest laughs from Jackie Moon are the Old Spice and Bud Light commercials showing across the Internet. Judging by the very disappointing $15 Million opening weekend for Semi-pro (compared to Talladega's $40+ weekend) it would seem that Ferrell's fans are a little timid as well.

The good news is that Semi-pro does a great job in capturing the wild ABA style of the 70's. From the wild hair and clothes to the antics of the ABA (yes, that bear wrestling thing did happen), Semi-pro takes a page out of Ron Burgundy's world. Plus, it is still better than Bewitched! (rating: 2.5/5 Stars)

Weekend Box Office Estimates (U.S.) Feb 29 - Mar 2 weekend

1 - Semi-Pro
Weekend: $15,200,000 Total: $15,200,000

2 - Vantage Point
Weekend: $13,000,000 Total: $41,005,000

3 - The Spiderwick Chronicles
Weekend: $8,752,000 Total: $55,081,000

4 - The Other Boleyn Girl
Weekend: $8,300,000 Total: $8,300,000

5 - Jumper
Weekend: $7,600,000 Total: $66,823,000

6 - Step Up 2 the Streets
Weekend: $5,714,000 Total: $48,593,000

7 - Fool's Gold
Weekend: $4,690,000 Total: $59,073,000

8 - Penelope
Weekend: $4,006,000 Total: $4,006,000

9 - No Country for Old Men
Weekend: $4,005,000 Total: $69,570,000

10 - Juno
Weekend: $3,350,000 Total: $135,135,000