Semi-Pro (2008)

Director:

Kent Alterman

Writer (WGA):

Scot Armstrong (written by)

Release Date:

29 February 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sport

Tagline:

The Greatest Fro on Earth

Plot:

Jackie Moon, the owner-coach-player of the American Basketball Association's Flint Michigan Tropics, rallies his teammates to make their NBA dreams come true

Plot Keywords:

Basketball | Nba | Merger | Team | Michigan

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Will Ferrell	...	Jackie Moon
Woody Harrelson	...	Monix
André Benjamin	...	Clarence
Maura Tierney	...	Lynn
Andrew Daly	...	Dick Pepperfield
Will Arnett	...	Lou Redwood
Andy Richter	...	Bobby Dee
David Koechner	...	Commissioner
Rob Corddry	...	Kyle
Matt Walsh	...	Father Pat the Ref
Jackie Earle Haley	...	Dukes
DeRay Davis	...	Bee Bee Ellis
Josh Braaten	...	Twiggy Munson
Jay Phillips	...	Scootsie Double Day
Peter Cornell	...	Vakidis
Pat Kilbane	...	Petrelli
Patti LaBelle	...	Jackie's Mom
Tim Meadows	...	Cornelius Banks
Jason Sudeikis	...	Nacho Fan
Kristen Wiig	...	Bear Handler
Ellia English	...	Ms. Quincy
Ian Roberts	...	Spurs Coach
Phil Hendrie	...	Nets Coach
Ed Helms	...	Turtleneck
Brian Huskey	...	White Pants
Paul Rust	...	Wheelchair Darren
Charlyne Yi	...	Wheelchair Jody
Rashid Byrd	...	Tropics Player
Terrell Byrd	...	Tropics Player
Tyus Tillman	...	Tropics Player
Michael Westphal	...	Tropics Player
Collette Wolfe	...	Melinda
MaShae Alderman	...	Ball Girl
Briana Barran	...	Ball Girl
Karen Berg	...	Ball Girl
Charlie Gelbart	...	Ball Girl
Leigha Kingsley	...	Ball Girl
Kristin Pitts	...	Ball Girl
Jenica Robinson	...	Ball Girl
Erinn Selkis	...	Ball Girl (as Erin Selkis)
Sandy Sunshine	...	Ball Girl
Steve Seagren	...	Losing Owner #1
Gil Glasgow	...	Losing Owner #2
Noel Conlon	...	Man Being Hugged
Scot Armstrong	...	Cameraman
Steve Bannos	...	Cop at Jail
Anthony Rasheed Burrell	...	Dancer
Dante Henderson	...	Dancer (as Danté Henderson)
Dan Domenech	...	Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Steven Valdez	...	Vender
Lili Asvar	...	Fan (uncredited)
Grayson Boucher	...	Spirits Player #31 / Spurs Player #22 (uncredited)
David E. Brown	...	Avid Tropics Fan (uncredited)
Theo Caesar	...	Tropics Fan (uncredited)
Scott Campbell	...	Tropics Fan (uncredited)
Jeff Crispi	...	Tropics Fan (uncredited)
Laurie Curtis	...	Spectator (uncredited)
Ryan Curtis	...	Spectator (uncredited)
Shawntay Dalon	...	Crowd Member (uncredited)
Courtney Dell	...	Tropics Fan (uncredited)
Byron de Marse	...	Spurs Player (uncredited)
Kimberly Evan	...	Groupie Cheryl (uncredited)
Mark J. Ferreri	...	Tropical Islanders Captain (uncredited)
Clint James	...	Avid Tropics Fan (uncredited)
Hope Angelica James	...	Groovy Tropics Fan (uncredited)
Ralph Kampshoff	...	Indiana Pacers Owner (uncredited)
Kate Luyben	...	Staci Moon (uncredited)
Tom Massmann	...	Tropics #1 Fan (uncredited)
Tiffany Michelle	...	Sarah (uncredited)
Jerry Minor	...	Paul the DJ (uncredited)
Danny Mooney	...	Party Griller (uncredited)
Justen Naughton	...	Squires Player #31 (uncredited)
Bruno Sandoval	...	Spurs Player #41 (uncredited)
Arne Starr	...	NY Nets On-air Announcer (uncredited)
Warren Sweeney	...	Winning Team Owner #1 (uncredited)

Directed by
Kent Alterman

Writing credits (WGA)
Scot Armstrong		(written by)

Produced by
Michael Aguilar	....	executive producer
Kent Alterman	....	executive producer
Cale Boyter	....	executive producer
Joshua Church	....	co-producer (as Josh Church)
Toby Emmerich	....	executive producer
David B. Householter	....	executive producer (as David Householter)
Jimmy Miller	....	producer
Lauren Shuler Donner	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Theodore Shapiro

Cinematography by
Shane Hurlbut

Film Editing by
Debra Neil-Fisher		(as Debra Neil Fisher)
Peter Teschner

Casting by
Allison Jones

Production Design by
Clayton Hartley

Art Direction by
Jim Gloster
Virginia L. Randolph

Set Decoration by
Casey Hallenbeck

Costume Design by
Susan Matheson

Makeup Department
Simone Almekias-Siegl	....	makeup artist
Steve Artmont	....	key makeup artist
Bridget Cook	....	key hair stylist (as Bridget M. Cook)
Melissa Forney	....	hair stylist (as Melissa 'Missy' Forney)
Nicole Frank	....	hair stylist (as Nicole J. Frank)
Cynthia Hernandez	....	makeup artist
Lisa Layman	....	makeup artist: Mr. Ferrell
Marsha Shearrill	....	makeup artist
Judy Twine	....	key makeup artist
Victoria Wood	....	wig maker: Woody Harrelson
Adam Brandy	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Kimberly Jones	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Keith Sayer	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Basil Grillo	....	production manager
Erik Holmberg	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark Robert Ellis	....	second unit director (as Mark Ellis)
Allan Monteiro Fortes	....	dga trainee (as Allan Fortes)
Courtenay Miles	....	first assistant director: second unit
Courtenay Miles	....	second assistant director
Matt Rebenkoff	....	first assistant director
Paul Schneider	....	second second assistant director
Mark Trapenberg	....	second second assistant director: Michigan
Ken Twohy	....	crowds assistant director

Art Department
Jim Bandsuh	....	concept illustrator
David Becerra	....	art department coordinator
Andrew Campbell	....	graphic designer
Ryan Cassidy	....	set dresser
Eric Coon	....	propmaker
Robert E. Denne	....	paint supervisor
Warren Drummond	....	storyboard artist
Glenn Forbes	....	assistant property master
Marc L. Fusco	....	key art department production assistant
Erick Garibay	....	assistant property master
Martin J. Gibbons	....	welding gangboss
Tommy Gutman	....	props
Phillip A. Henry	....	carpenter
Phillip A. Henry	....	propmaker
Steven Curtis Husch	....	set decorations buyer
Tim R. Lafferty	....	construction gangboss
Sam Lennox	....	assistant art director
Jim Magdaleno	....	storyboard artist
Scott Maginnis	....	property master
Brook Mansbridge	....	general foreman
Victor Mendez	....	set dresser
Joe Miller	....	propmaker
Kurt Miller	....	carpenter foreman: reshoots
Mark Moretti	....	storyboard artist
Mark Sakamoto	....	lead man
Butch West	....	construction coordinator
Michael Goss	....	labor (uncredited)

Sound Department
Charlie Campagna	....	sound effects recordist
Paul Timothy Carden	....	dialogue editor
Victor Ray Ennis	....	assistant sound editor
Victor Ray Ennis	....	supervising sound editor
Nerses Gezalyan	....	sound mixer
Jay Golden	....	boom operator: second unit
Michael Hertlein	....	dialogue editor
Daniel S. Irwin	....	dialogue editor
Tim Song Jones	....	utility sound technician
Saravoot Kaitkalang	....	sound utility: second unit
Jesse Kaplan	....	sound utility
Daniel R. Kerr	....	sound effects recordist (as Dan Kerr)
Scott Millan	....	sound re-recording mixer
Glenn T. Morgan	....	sound effects editor
Mark Ormandy	....	additional sound
Mark Ormandy	....	sound effects recordist
David Parker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alan Rankin	....	sound designer
Art Rochester	....	production sound mixer
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Mark P. Stoeckinger	....	supervising sound editor
John C. Stuver	....	dialogue editor
Matthew E. Taylor	....	additional sound
Jon Tendrich	....	sound mixer: second unit
Tim Walston	....	sound designer
Tim Walston	....	sound effects editor
Drew Webster	....	digital sound mix technician
Cary Weitz	....	boom operator
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist
Kerry Dean Williams	....	adr supervisor
Dave Wilson	....	adr mixer: Atlanta
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist

Special Effects by
Chin	....	special effects
Bruce Khteian	....	special effects
Bruce Minkus	....	special effects coordinator
Don Sustrich	....	special effects crew

Visual Effects by
Bill Church	....	digital artist
Patrick Clancey	....	digital opticals
John Coats	....	digital artist
John Coats	....	visual effects supervisor: second unit
Johannes Gamble	....	digital artist
Anne Graham	....	digital artist
David D. Johnson	....	visual effects supervisor (as Dave Johnson)
Sean Kennedy	....	digital effects artist: Pacific Vision Productions
Steve Koch	....	digital artist
Steve Koch	....	matte painter
Vincent Lavares	....	data manager: Laser Pacific
Zach Mandt	....	visual effects
Mimi Medel	....	visual effects executive
Greg Paddock	....	digital artist
Lauren Ritchie	....	executive in charge of visual effects
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)

Stunts
Brian Avery	....	stunts
Joni Avery	....	stunt performer
Erik Betts	....	stunts
Stacey Carino	....	stunt performer
Jacob Chambers	....	stunts
Jeff Chumas	....	utility stunts
Gilbert B. Combs	....	stunts
Craig Davis	....	stunts
Kevin Derr	....	stunt double
Shauna Duggins	....	stunt double
Richard Epper	....	utility stunts
Ian Eyre	....	stunts
Precious Garrett	....	stunt double: Andre Benjamin
Mickey Giacomazzi	....	stunts
Meegan Godfrey	....	stunt performer
Casey Hendershot	....	stunt actor
Terry Jackson	....	stunts
Brett A. Jones	....	stunts
Dorian Kingi	....	stunts
Dan Lemieux	....	stunt double
Ming Liu	....	stunt double
Brian Machleit	....	stunt coordinator
Bob Marrocco	....	stunts: Michigan
Derek Mears	....	stunts
Randy Miller	....	stunt double
Sonja Munsterman	....	stunt double
Anthony T. Pennello	....	stunt double
Kerry Rossall	....	stunt performer
Pete Turner	....	stunt performer
Mark Aaron Wagner	....	stunt performer
T.J. White	....	stunts
Thom Williams	....	stunts
Merritt Yohnka	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Gavin Alcott	....	assistant camera
Kenneth J. Appel	....	electrian
Kent Baker	....	key rigging grip
Todd Barron	....	camera operator
Gary Breckel	....	electrician
Patrick Brennan	....	electrician
Glenn Brown	....	Steadicam operator
Glenn Brown	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Thomas Burns	....	additional lighting technician
Po Chan	....	camera coordinator
Michael J. Conner	....	best boy rigging electrician: Michigan
Jeffrey A. Cook	....	electric
Jesse Crusing	....	additional rigging electrician
Roberto De Angelis	....	Steadicam operator
Roberto De Angelis	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Jerry C. Deats	....	best boy rigging grip
Alfredo Denila	....	grip
Jenifer Galvez	....	dimmer board operator
David Gazzana	....	best boy electric
Scott Graves	....	rigging gaffer
Jerry Gregoricka	....	rigging electrician
Barry Gross	....	dimmer rigging technician
Rudy Harbon	....	additional camera operator
Gary Hatfield	....	camera operator
Todd Higgins	....	gaffer
Robert Ikeda	....	grip (as Bobby Ikeda)
Robert Ikeda	....	grip
Brad Irvin	....	pre-rig electric: Michigan
Jeffrey A. Johnson	....	rigging grip
Brad Knopf	....	rigging electrician: Michigan
John Linares	....	electrician
Michael Listorti	....	dolly grip
George Lozano Jr.	....	electrician: practical fixtures
Marc Margulies	....	assistant camera
Frank Masi	....	still photographer
Kevin Mucha	....	electrician
Paul Murphey	....	key video assist operator
Dawn Nakamura	....	assistant camera
Morten Petersen	....	rigging best boy electric
Keith Robinson	....	first assistant camera
Joel A. Ruiz	....	rigging electrician
David C. Russell	....	lighting technician
Riley Sidore	....	set lighting technician
Anthony 'Spike' Simms	....	electrician: Detroit
Michael Svitak	....	film loader
Stephen Tachera	....	lighting console programmer
James 'Biff' Thomsen	....	electrician
Joseph Vineyard	....	electrician
Christopher Webber	....	rigging electrician
John Wendling	....	grip
Gary Hatfield	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)

Animation Department
Ryan Levitus	....	animator: titles

Casting Department
Chris Bustard	....	extras casting
Dorian Frankel	....	casting associate
Mariann H.W. Lee	....	extras casting
Caitlin McKenna-Wilkinson	....	adr voice casting
Wendy Washbrook	....	extras casting: Michigan

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charlene Amateau	....	costume supervisor
Yvonne Bastidos	....	set costumer
Bethany Bernhard	....	costumer
Sandra Bojin-Sedlik	....	additional costumer
Jean Bone	....	additional costumer
Laura Cresswell	....	costume assistant
Elaine Davis	....	assistant costume designer
Nina Fabio	....	seamstress
Robyn Gebhart	....	cutter/fitter
Amy Jo Hoppenfeld	....	key costumer
Bradley Inaba	....	additional costumer
Tess Inman	....	additional costumer
Hasmig Karaciosian	....	seamstress
Marylou Lim	....	costumer: Mr. Ferrell
Fran Murphy	....	additional costumer
Andrea Napier	....	additional costumer: Michigan
Marienne O'Brien	....	set costumer
Grace Pyke	....	costumer
Roric Ruegsegger	....	set costumer
Michael A. Russell	....	set costumer
Susan Strubel	....	set costumer
Jack Taggart	....	costume ager/dyer
Jack Taggart	....	head ager and dyer
Danny Vick	....	costumer
Bernadine Vida	....	additional costumer: Michigan
Andy Visser	....	additional costumer
Teri Wertman	....	additional costumer: Michigan

Editorial Department
Kenny Becker	....	color timer
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
David S. Clark	....	second assistant editor
Lauren Connelly	....	post-production assistant
Beth Dewey	....	digital intermediate project manager (as Elizabeth Dewey)
Patrick J. Don Vito	....	additional editor
Michael Hatzer	....	digital intermediate colorist: Efilm
Cecilia Hyoun	....	first assistant editor
Scott Janush	....	assistant editor
Chris Jensen	....	digital colorist assist
Robert E. Phillips	....	digital intermediate assistant project manager (as Robert Phillips)

Music Department
Pete Anthony	....	conductor
Pete Anthony	....	orchestrator
Lee Blaylock	....	music clearances
Bob Bowen	....	music executive
Paul Broucek	....	executive in charge of music
Bryan Carrigan	....	digital score recordist
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor (as Sandy De Crescent)
Thomas S. Drescher	....	music editor (as Thomas Drescher)
Chris Fogel	....	music mixer
Chris Fogel	....	score recordist
James Fogel	....	assistant scoring engineer
Richard Ford	....	supervising music editor
Jerry Hey	....	music arranger: horn
Oliver Hug	....	assistant music editor
Jasper Randall	....	choir contractor
Peter Rotter	....	music contractor
Lori Silfen	....	music business affairs
John F.X. Walsh	....	music business affairs

Transportation Department
Mark Brown	....	production van operator
Daniel Canamar	....	transportation dispatcher
R. Blaine Currier	....	picture car coordinator
Lindsay Dougherty	....	transportation dispatcher: Detroit
Ken Farnell	....	driver
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car
Chris Gorden	....	driver
Scotty Goudreau	....	transportation
Chris Haynes	....	driver
Kurt Knudsen	....	transportation co-captain: Detroit
Michael Menapace	....	transportation coordinator
Robert Middendorff	....	driver: Detroit
Tom Mohan	....	driver: Detroit
Frank Morreale	....	transportation captain: Detroit
Bill Neckrock	....	driver: Detroit
Franco Rea	....	driver: cast
Rob Shaw	....	driver: Detroit
John 'Detroit' White	....	transportation
Jeff J. Williams	....	driver: vip

Other crew
Diana Adams	....	production accountant
Claudia Alvarez	....	athletic trainer
Gerard Averill	....	location manager
Richard Baker	....	production assistant
Cassandra Barbour	....	rights and clearances
Sara Bartkiewicz	....	assistant production coordinator
Steve Benezra	....	assistant location manager
Cody Birdwell	....	additional set production assistant
Melissa Bradac	....	production assistant
Will Casey	....	unit publicist
Dante	....	warm-up comic
Nicholas Deroo	....	assistant location manager
Russell DeVriendt	....	assistant location manager: Michigan
Adam Deyoe	....	assistant
Sierra Donley	....	production assistant
Matthew Eberle	....	production assistant
Jessica Elbaum	....	assistant: Mr. Ferrell
Michelle Elkin	....	assistant choreographer
Mark Robert Ellis	....	sports coordinator (as Mark Ellis)
Richie Elson	....	additional set production assistant
Alex Fields	....	location assistant
Lindsay Gelfand	....	assistant: Scot Armstrong
Mario Gilbert	....	assistant location manager
Tommy Gutman	....	on-set assistant
Cate Hardman	....	script supervisor
Pete Hernandez	....	production assistant
Justin W. Hill	....	key assistant location manager
Ellen J. Hornstein	....	assistant: Mr. Householter
Arthur Hundhausen	....	research consultant: ABA
Marisol Jiménez	....	construction accountant
Trevor Johann	....	office production assistant
Quanita Johnson	....	key office production assistant
Quanita Johnson	....	production assistant
Dave Kasubowski	....	craft service
Brian Kaurich	....	location assistant: Flint
Brendan Kirsch	....	basketball coach
Jason Kumalo	....	key set production assistant
Dwayne LaGrou	....	winnebago
James Land	....	stand-in
David R. Lawson	....	medic
Jerry Lee	....	construction accountant
Rebecca Lee	....	assistant: Mr. Miller
Helaine Lembeck	....	adr loop group
Aimee McDaniel	....	assistant basketball coordinator
Chris McLeod	....	production assistant
Randy Miller	....	animal trainer: grizzly bear (as Randy Scott Miller)
Brian A. Nguyen	....	athletic trainer
Barbra Pakler	....	assistant: Mr. Miller
Bill Palmer	....	production assistant
Tim Patterson	....	production office assistant
Jacqueline Phillips	....	assistant: Mr. Alterman
Hernando Planells Jr.	....	assistant basketball coach (as Hernando Planells)
Marguerite Pomerhn Derricks	....	choreographer (as Marguerite Derricks)
Linda Rapoport	....	payroll accountant: reshoots
Steven John Reynolds	....	first assistant accountant
Joey Rivera	....	craft service
Robert Rizzolo	....	additional set production assistant
Theresa M. Roehner	....	base camp facilitator
Page Rosenberg-Marvin	....	production coordinator
David Rumble	....	location manager: Michigan
John Russel	....	production assistant
Erin Sahlstrom	....	first assistant production coordinator
Gregory Santoro	....	production assistant
Laura Sevier	....	rights and clearances
Peter Skorupskas	....	production assistant
Jeff Solano	....	set production assistant
Jan-Willem van der Vaart	....	production assistant
Anthony Woods	....	production medic
Cal Wrenn	....	basketball assistant
Keegan Zall	....	set production assistant
Michalla Petersen	....	voice-over artist (uncredited)

Thanks
George Gervin	....	special thanks
Artis Gilmore	....	special thanks
Dick Glover	....	thanks
James Silas	....	special thanks
Terry Stembridge	....	special thanks
David Stern	....	thanks
Bill Walton	....	thanks
Casey Wasserman	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Donners' Company
• MFP Semi-Pro
• Mosaic Media Group
• New Line Cinema
• Road Rebel

Distributors

• ARM Distribution (2008) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• Benelux Film Distribution (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cinestar (2008) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2008) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• New Line Cinema (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2008) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• D Productions (2008) (Turkey) (all media)
• Distribution Company (2008) (Argentina) (all media)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• FS Film Oy (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• New Line Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Switzerland) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Pacific Vision Productions (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Executive Assurance  security
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Cinelease  lighting equipment provided by
• Cinemoves  camera cranes
• Classic Images  footage provided by
• David Haddad  transportation equipment
• Designer Wardrobe Trailers  wardrobe trailer
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Haddad's  transportation equipment
• Hyperion Sound  score mixed at
• J.L. Fisher  camera dollies
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation (as JoAnn Kane Music Service)
• LCW Props  set equipment
• Los Angeles Center Studios  sound stages
• Movie Movers  trailers
• New Line Records  soundtrack
• Panavision  camera provided by (as Panavision Hollywood)
• Paskal Lighting  lighting and grip equipment
• Picture Mill, The  opening sequence and main titles designed by (as Picture Mill)
• Predators in Action  grizzly bear supplier (as Randy Miller's Predators in Action)
• Rockbottom Rentals  cell phone rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  nextel cell phone rentals
• Sony Pictures Studios  score recorded at
• Soundelux  post-production sound editing
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility
• Sportsrobe  costumes
• Todd-AO Studios  re-recording services (as Todd-AO)
• Westlake Recording Studio  score recorded at (as Westlake Recording Studios)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

91 min | 98 min (unrated DVD version) | 99 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

Ireland:15A | UK:15 | Australia:M | USA:R (certificate #43605) | Singapore:M18 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Singapore:NC-16 (edited for re-rating) | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Sweden:7 | Japan:PG-12 | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Flint, Michigan, USA

Company:

Donners' Company

Trivia:

Michael Westphal, one of the bench players for the Tropics, is the son of NBA player and coach Paul Westphal.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Although the movie is set in the 1970s, many people in the crowd at various games are wearing current fashions, like hipster jeans and contemporary sports jerseys. This is most noticeable when the bear escapes and everyone in the crowd rushes to exit the stadium.

Quotes:

Lynn: You think I've forgotten that you cheated on me twice?
Monix: I only cheated on you once. There just had to be two women.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Duplicity/Knowing/I Love You, Man (#1.4)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Mr. Big Stuff

Needs more Doctor J

One of the joys of being a university student is getting invited to free sneak previews. I went to one last night, where the front half of the theater was packed with students while the back was filled with members of the writing team, taking careful notes on which jokes we did and did not laugh at. For the most part, the reaction was positive, and the jokes that failed miserably will probably get edited out by the time the movie officially opens.

The movie was pretty sports-comedy formulaic, with the down-and-out lovable losers getting a big chance, then introducing a new character who will inspire them, and a few montages later, the big finale. The R-rating was used mainly on adding in lots of cuss-words, with mixed humorous results. There was a really funny joke about masturbation. I was hoping for a little more basketball craziness, but oh well.

The highlight, of course, was Will Ferrel meeting the 70s. I myself was not alive in the 70s, so I only know about the culture through the disco-funk lens of caricature cinema. Ferrel is one funky mofo so he thrives. I would say this was one of his better efforts, topping Taladega nights, Elf, and the ice skating one. It's not as good as Anchorman, mainly because it's just not as quotable.

In short, if you like Will Ferrel, or 70s funk (the soundtrack is hella dope), see this movie.