By Phil Contrino

When Semi-Pro opened this past February, it was clear right from the opening weekend that Will Ferrell was far from a sure thing.

The film, which marked what seemed to be Ferrell's 1,757th entry into the sports-spoof genre, was able to gross only $33.47 million domestically. Considering that Ferrell's star turn in the less commercially-accessible Stranger Than Fiction was able to bring in $40.4 million, Semi-Pro was viewed as a disappointment.

Yet Ferrell isn't through with 2008 just yet. This Friday, he'll star opposite John C. Reilly in Step Brothers.

Reilly also has something to prove with Step Brothers. After delivering scene stealing comedic and dramatic turns in Talladega Nights, The Aviator, Anger Management and Chicago, the actor was given a starring role in 2007's Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Unfortunately, the film fell flat on its face and was able to bring in only $18.3 million domestically.

Of course, as is always the case during the summer, Brothers will have to fend off more than its share of competition.

The Dark Knight is well on its way to becoming not only the biggest movie of the summer, but also one of the biggest of all time and Brothers will have to try and sway audiences away from repeat or even first viewings of Knight.

In addition, The X-Files: I Want To Believe is also opening this weekend and as an established property on both the big and small screen, it brings with it a sizable built-in audience that may prove difficult to overcome for Brothers.

Then again, after most of the moviegoing population caught the gloom-filled Knight last weekend, a comedy, not a sci-fi drama, may come off as more appealing. And since audiences obviously rejected the latest of Ferrell's sports-themed flicks, Brothers may be seen as a return to his Old School days.

Will Ferrell: By The Numbers

2008 Semi-Pro, $33,472,850 (domestic)
2007 Blades Of Glory, $118,594,548
2006 Stranger Than Fiction, $40,435,190
2006 Talladega Nights: Ballad of Ricky Bobby, $148,213,377
2005 The Producers, $19,496,626
2005 Bewitched, $63,313,159
2005 Kicking and Screaming, $52,842,724
2005 Melinda and Melinda, $3,826,280
2004 Anchorman, $84,271,247
2003 Elf, $173,398,518
2003 Old School, $75,199,187

John C. Reilly: By The Numbers

2007 Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, $18,317,151 (domestic)
2006 Talladega Nights: Ballad of Ricky Bobby, $148,213,377
2006 Prairie Home Companion, $20,342,852
2005 Dark Water, $25,473,352
2004 The Aviator, $102,610,330
2004 Criminal, $929,233
2003 Anger Management, $134,318,650
2002 Chicago, $170,687,518