Semi-Pro

Blu-ray Review

New Line Home Entertainment

Release: June 3, 2008

MSRP: $39.98

Semi-Pro is a basketball comedy starring Will Ferrell coming off of big successes with Blades of Glory, as well as Talladega Nights. The film is a spoof basically on basketball in the 1970s and features some crazy over-the-top antics from Ferrell and company. The film is set to be released on the Blu-ray format from New Line Home Entertainment.

The release on Blu-ray includes both the theatrical version, as well as the special unrated version which has an extra 10-minutes of content.

The main aspect of the story for Semi-Pro revolves around Ferrell’s character, Jackie Moon. He has a hit song in the 1970s called Love Me Sexy, and manages to buy his own ABA basketball team based out of Flint, Michigan called The Tropics.

From here, Jackie Moon is the owner, coach, and star player for the team, which isn’t located in a very tropical place to say the least.

The team gets a chance to join the NBA, which is when the plot and antics kick into gear. Unfortunately for this one, it appears to be more of an air ball for Will Ferrell rather than a slam dunk. A lot of the comedy falls flat, and everything just seems too forced.

The video quality for the Blu-ray release is presented in 1080p in VC-1 and looks pretty solid. The video transfer is not perfect as there is a bit of grain seen in a few spots.

Overall though for the video quality the black levels, flesh tones, and colors are vibrant, clear and crisp. This is up there as one of the best Blu-ray releases from New Line thus far.

The audio is presented in a DTS-HD 7.1 Master Audio mix and allows the dialogue to take precedent over everything else.

The audio mix comes across as a bit front-heavy as the soundtrack and sound effects do not seem as impact-full as they could have been. The dialogue though as stated does come across perfect. The rear channels could have been used more though.

In terms of special features, there are plenty of extras on this Blu-ray release.

The first feature is called The Cutting Room and featured deleted and alternate scenes from the film. There is also an alternate ending included here.

You also get two features on the ABA, one giving a history on the American Basketball Association, and the other showing how they re-created the league from the 70s.

The song from Ferrell’s main character, Love Me Sexy also gets its own short feature, along with a couple of other short extras. The song also gets its own music video in the extras.

You also get a visit to the set from NBA legend Bill Walton, as well as a 5-minute feature on the location of the film, Flint, Michigan.

On top of this stuff you get a documentary on the making of Semi-Pro called The Man Behind Semi-Pro, as well as a funny extra called Flint Tropics Hot Talk with Dick Pepperfield.

Rounding out the extras include a BD-Java game called Super Agility Trainer, similar to Pong, as well as some trailers.

Overall Semi-Pro comes out on the Blu-ray format with what seems like a great package. You get a Will Ferrell comedy with what appears to be tons of extras. The problem with this 2-disc release though is that the film itself is not really funny enough to hold your attention, and the extras, though plentiful, lack a lot of real value. Will Ferrell fans should rent this just to check it out.

Film: 7.0

Not one of the better comedies from Will Ferrell. Everything seems too forced and the story falls flat.

Video: 8.5

A nice video transfer from New Line, definitely up there with their better efforts.

Audio: 7.8

The rear channels could have been used much more to bring out the sound effects.

Special Features: 8.0

There is a lot here, but not much to really add value to the sub-par film.

Final Score: 7.5