"Semi-Pro" was semi-decent." But I may have been one of the few to not fall in love with “Anchorman,” the beginning of Ferrell’s long string of characters that I would describe as womanizing, ignorant, 'I’m always right,'  loud talking, in over his head kinda guys. It works and I’m not exactly criticizing him for it, but there’s only so many more sports left for Ferrell to tackle. Where will this leave him? Can he ever recover? Who cares? I had a blast watching “Semi-Pro.”
     I guess I went in with low expectations and then was pleasantly surprised when it delivered. It’s by no means a perfect movie, but it did its job and I can’t wait to watch it again. The film is set in 1976 and I for one am very glad I didn’t live through the 1970’s. After everything I’ve read, seen and heard from my parents about what it was like, I think I would have gone stir-crazy. The shag carpet, the hippies, the swingers, the bad hair, the bad everything, it’s all too much.
     But I’m not alone, Ferrell sees this too. He’s starred in two movies set in this decade and had a cameo in “Starsky & Hutch.” He sees the ridiculousness of that era and is able to laugh about it and write funny movies depicting absurd characters. If Ron Burgundy was the epitome of the chauvinistic newsman of the 1970’s, then Jackie Moon was the very essence of the preening self-promoters of the failed ABA.
     I was delighted to see Woody Harrelson turn out for the picture when I saw the trailer for the movie some time back, but was ultimately disappointed with how little he was used comically. I understand that this was a Will Ferrell vehicle, but Harrelson has already shown his comic sensibilities in the movie “King Pin,” a comedy on everybody’s must see list. Using Harrelson’s Moxin as the subplot was very off putting, a story like his who had a love interest and a deeper back story would typically be the main character. I’ve since deduced that this was so Ferrell could have more screen time but not have to play the straight man. He could be as loud and outrageous and we wouldn’t have to fall in love with him like we end up doing with Harrelson’s Moxin.
     Andre Benjamin is an all right actor and fine as Clarence “Coffee” Black, a young hot shot with a promising career and high hopes for the NBA. Turning in hilarious performances are Will Arnett and Andrew Daly as Lou Redwood and Dick Pepperfield, obnoxious play-by-play commentators who don’t know when to shut up. Arnett is great at improv, and was certainly used to the best of his talents in this role. Andrew Daly absolutely steals the show as the straight man, a role not typically coveted by all comedians, though Daly does wonders with this straight laced on air talent. Andy Richter and Matt Walsh are great bonuses and Maura Tierney as Harrelson’s love interest is wonderful but her screen time is too short as Harrelson’s Monix is just a supporting character.