Air ball

On screen, it's clear Will Ferrell's best-known characters are lazy. How else to explain the doughy physiques, the schlumpy appearances?

But his new sports comedy "Semi-Pro" is a different kind of lazy. The comedy, opening today (Feb. 29), doesn't get its hands dirty with funny situations or clever verbiage. Instead, it lets Ferrell talk like a sailor for every strained laugh.

My Washington Times review breaks down the comic failures. "Semi-Pro" did make me laugh, but the film's imagination gets tapped out in the opening minutes when we learn how Ferrell's character segued from one-hit wonder to franchise owner.

(Photo: Will Ferrell is the Flint, Mich. Tropics power forward and owner in "Semi-Pro.")