New Movies for the Feb 29 Wknd

Written by Sean McBride

Friday, 29 February 2008

Hollywood takes a bit of a breather this week, with only one film getting a major release. Of course, if you’re a fan of funnyman Will Ferrell, one film is all you’ll need. “Semi-Pro” is a hit-and-miss mixture of a traditional sports movie with ‘lots of crazy comedy thrown in around the edges. Will Farrell plays a pop singing star in the disco-tatic 70s. He has one hit song, but he makes enough money to buy the Flint Tropics, a struggling team in the old American Basketball League.  Farrell installs himself as the team’s owner, coach, promoter—he’s even their starting power forward. Then word comes down that the top 4 teams in the ABA will be merging into the NBA, and Farrell’s character is determined to do anything and everything to move his team up to the big time.   “Semi-Pro” is okay for an occasional laugh, but the sports section simply isn’t very stirring, and without a supporting cast dedicated to the humor, the film isn’t consistently funny either. Okay, so the sight of Will Ferrell in  ‘70s style short-shorts, making granny free throws is good for a guffaw or two, but it’s just not enough to make “Semi Pro” into the slam dunk comedy we usually expect from Will Ferrell. Also opening is “Penelope,” a modern-day fairy tale in the Beauty and the Beast mode, except that the girl is the beast this time around because she suffers from a witch’s curse that gives her a piggy nose. “Penelope” is a charming story about learning to love yourself, no matter what you look like. It features a nice cast of eccentric characters and plays like something Tim Burton might have produced on one of his creatively-average days.  Some okay stuff on home DVD. “Beowulf” will make the biggest splash, but if you like silly British comedies, I highly recommend “Death at a Funeral.”  And that’s what’s new in theaters this week, I’m Sean McBride the movie guy for Newscenter 25.

Last Updated ( Friday, 29 February 2008 )