But can Ferrell's latest incarnation –– the self assured, posturing Jackie Moon, owner, coach and player of dire Michigan team Flint Tropics –– match the high standards of Anchorman?

The answer is a resounding no. The hackneyed underdog-battling-for-a-shot-at-the-big-time plot is fleshed out with a series of set pieces crow-barred awkwardly into place for comic effect.

And although some of these do provide light relief –– especially the scene where Ferrell wrestles a 'killer' bear –– they are incidental to the story and the plot subsequently ambles aimlessly towards its far too obvious conclusion.

In fact, Ferrell himself is pretty incidental to the film –– except of course as the big name draw to get the punters parting with their hard earned cash.

As one would expect he gets all the best one-liners and his delivery is as impeccable as ever, but his one dimensional character never really engages with the audience and the supporting cast are of far more interest.

The charismatic Andre Benjamin steals the show as the team's star player Clarence 'Coffee' Black and Woody Harrelson's blossoming relationship with old flame Maura Tierney piques the interest but is sadly under developed.

The film kicks off at funeral procession pace and never really gets past a gentle arthritic hobble, finally building to a climax which is unsatisfying and ultimately pointless.

Semi-Pro will undoubtedly be a hit with Will Ferrell fans and it does provide an amusing distraction, but for those who find Ferrell tiresome at the best of times this is best avoided.

It has its moments, but overall is an unoriginal, uninspiring, turgid, cliche-ridden Will Ferrell vehicle which provides glimpses of what made Anchorman a comedy classic but has little substance and few genuine laugh-out-loud moments.