Semi-Tough

I loved the book, but failed to heed warnings to steer clear of the film. The script is hackneyed. Reynolds, as Billy Clyde Puckett, gives his usual smirking performance, while Kristoffersen devil-may-care mien of his character, split end 'Shake' Tiller, and Dennehy adequate captures the man-child, T.J. Lambert. However, the script does little justice to Clayburgh's character, Barbara Jane, who was the best developed and most interesting character in Jenkins' novel.

The novel, "Semi-Tough" was authored by Dan Jenkins, possibly the funniest sportswriter who ever lived and a very astute chronicler of football and golf. The novel was absolutely hilarious, completely un-PC but a very realistic satire of pro football 50 years ago. The movie resembles nothing close to the novel. It's not so much even a satire of football as for some reason it becomes a sendup of EST and the various self- help spiritually movements that sprang up in the late 60's, most of which were cons and/or pyramid schemes. The film stinks, but the novel and the sequel, "Life It's Ownself" are a riot. Jenkins was a gem.

I know that's bold talk but currently "Semi-Tough" is my favorite Burt Reynolds movie. This movie is historic in my family. My mother took us to see this movie when we were young (I was 13 and my brother was 11). She must have left the theater with an ulcer. In the first two minutes there's a full male shower scene. After the movie she swore that she would never take us to see other R rated movie again. That said, "Semi-Tough" is a wildly funny movie with a surprisingly sweet love story. Burt has never been better. His supporting cast is almost as strong. "Semi-Tough" covers so much ground it's hard to call it a "football" movie. Great stuff all around. Honorable mention: Robert Preston.

This is one of the worst abominations to come out of Hollywood during the 70's. Not even Burt Reynolds can save the script of this forgettable drivel. I lost all respect for the author of the book, Dan Jenkins, for allowing this thing to be made. The book BTW is hilarious, and has no resemblance to the film. Want to watch a football movie try the Longest Yard or North Dallas Forty. 1/10

Well, I loved the book - absolutely LOVED it! This film is a sort of decent stab at adapting Dan Jenkins great book, but, mainly due to language and Political Correctness, it ends up falling flat. Much of the humor in the book is racial (both directions, by the way), sophomorically sexual or otherwise politically incorrect. Since much of that had to be dropped from the film, a good bit of the books' humor is lost. And, as with many films, there is less room for character development than in a book. Still, with Burt Reynold and Jill Claiburgh, it has some considerable charm and humor. The story line is pretty faithful to the book, although there are a couple of changes that I wish hadn't been made to the story. Kris Kristofferson offers up a surprisingly good performance, and he's never impressed me as an actor before (nor singer either, for that matter). Overall, not a bad film, but you'd probably like the book better - I do!

Burt Reynolds and Kris Kristhofferson play two pro football players who are interested in the the daughter of the owner of the team. This movie is actually humorous. It shows what these two guys will do to try to win over the girl who is playing these guys off against each other and enjoying every second if it. Two men competing for the girl, and willing to make total fools of themselves in the process, until the Burt Reynolds character wises up, steps back, examines the situation objectively and then plots his strategy to gain the girl's attention. It's not the greatest movie, and it's definitely not a sports movie, but it's worth watching, has funny moments, and shows what a guy is willing to do to get a woman.