With some free time and no child to worry about on a Thursday evening, the movie theater beckoned. The stupidity of “Semi-Pro” delivered.

Once again, my wife and I proved that you don’t have to use your brain to get your money’s worth at the movies. Will Farrell played pretty much the same character he always plays, except the guy played basketball and sang bad 70s songs things time.

That doesn’t make it any less funny for us. Knowing the history of renegade sports leagues like the old ABA, I could see a more realistic version of Jackie Moon actually owning a team in the league.

That kind of tactic draws me to the Will Ferrell movies. We all know (or are) a guy like Frank the Tank, who could totally blow everything just to live the college life again. We know that TV newsrooms in the 70s had blowhards like Ron Burgandy. And we know that pro sports leagues seeking to raise their market share while competing against the more established leagues will have someone wrestle a bear in order to get fans.

OK, maybe that went a little to far, but those kinds of teams do rely on players like “Coffee” Black, who have never found their true potential, and Ed Monix, who just want one more chance for glory. The fact that they have to listen to their teammate/coach/owner Jackie Moon just takes the nugget of reality into the world of comedy.

I really enjoyed the performance of Andre Benjamin – it took me a while to recognize him as Andre 3000 from Outkast – as Coffee Black. I think he could really parlay this into a solid acting career. He has great charisma.

Woody Harrelson put it all together as Monix. He has that great quality that combines douchebag and drinking buddy. I also loved the storyline of Robb Corddry getting his rocks off by watching his woman hook up with Monix.

Add in some great supporting performances by Andy Richter, Will Arnett and David Koechner, and a script that allowed the disappointment of “Bad News Bears,” (complete with Jackie Earle Haley) but the final thrill of “Hoosiers,” and you have the front runner for the Best Picture in The Brians.

The only other movie I saw was the Hannah Montana concert film so pretty much anything could assume that role. Still, Semi-Pro shows that stupid comedies still make me laugh.