Movie: Semi-Pro
MPAA Rating: R (Copious language and brief sex scene)
The Short Version:
Funny, mindless film with a weak foundation in the history of the ABA (yes, someone actually wrestled a bear!) A lot more profanity than needed, but the story has heart and is much more of an ensemble piece than the trailers indicated.
The Long Version:
Will Farrell seems to have found his "default role" playing sports figures with more ego than talent. While some comedians try to stretch themselves with each movie (Jim Carrey and some stages of Robin William's career come to mind), Farrell has found a comfortable place playing outrageous characters who would not fit into anyone else's body. (If you doubt me, check out BALLS OF FURY, which was clearly intended as a Will Farrell vehicle and was barely watchable without him.)
In this movie, Farrell plays "Jackie Moon", a one-hit-wonder of 70s music who parlayed the money from his single gold record into ownership of one of the ragtag teams that make up the American Basketball League (a short-lived competitor to the NBA). He loves his team and the town of Flint, Michigan, and his dream is to bring the "Tropics" to the NBA. Unfortunately, while the NBA wants to absorb the ABA, it will only take the top four teams... and the Flint Michigan Tropics are renowned for being in LAST place. The story details Jackie Moon's attempts to break into fourth place and achieve the other goals set by the NBA for admittance.
The story has a lot of heart, making you truly want the band of misfits to achieve. And unlike Anchorman and most other Will Farrell films is truly an ensemble piece with Woody Harrelson and Andre Benjamin bringing in decent comic and dramatic performances. Nearly every bit character is given their chance to shine, including a brief cameo by Tim Meadows (proving ex-SNLers make sure everyone can make the rent this month). It is a fun, mindless film.
Unfortunately, it also really earns its [R] rating with copious profanity, a brief sex scene, and some not-entirely-comic violence. What truly mystifies me is why they felt the need to make the film a hard R. A reshooting of two scenes and switching out few F and S-words with comic equivalents ("Great ceaser's ghost!") and they could have had a nice PG-13 film which probably would have doubled their opening weekend (currently estimated at about $15 million).
Hiç yorum yok:
Yorum Gönder