Any fans out there?
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buby1987 — 20 years ago(May 22, 2005 01:37 AM)
I'm a big fan of this film, which has been unfairly neglected. When it came out in late 1977, it was marketed like a dumb redneck sex comedy, a raucous cross between Smokey and the Bandit and The Longest Yard. There was also the expectations from readers of Dan Jenkins's novel which were thwarted by the film. Basically, Semi-Tough was a low-key, offbeat art film that happened to be financed by a major studio and happened to feature big movie stars of the time (Burt and Kris). But this movie ain't really about football it's about the cult of celebrity, and it's about bizarre cults in the 70's like EST that caught on with celebrities and athletes (Pyramid Power, anyone?). Even the Robert Preston character, an egomaniac beyond compare, is beholden to the absurd practice of "move-agenics," in which a billionaire tycoon crawls around on his knees in a futile attempt to gain wisdom and balance. Kristofferson's character undergoes a Cat Stevens-esque overnight conversion into enlightenment, and it requires Burt Reynolds's good old boy All-American skepticism to puncture it and bring it to light. Check out Richard Schickel's review in Time to fully "get" this film.
In the 29 or so years since this film has been released, real life has surpassed the crazy ideas of screenwriter Walter Bernstein and director Michael Ritchie celebrities are not merely worshiped, they are looked upon as avatars of truth. -
lukejbarnett — 5 years ago(August 12, 2020 11:22 PM)
this movie is poorly rated? no way. this is a really well made film. it's not a great film exactly but it's definitely really good. it has good performances an especially from burt reynolds, memorable characters, good chemistry between the actors, an interesting story, a winning story and it's uplifting. i loved the chemistry between burt and jill.
lukejbarnett -
brentnevers — 14 years ago(November 06, 2011 03:55 PM)
I was in this movie as an extra in the stadium. It was in the old Orange Bowl in Miami, yet it was supposed to represent a northern city and we were told to dress like it was coldwhich was impossible. They kept moving the couple of thousand of us who were there all over the place so we would be in the shotnot matter the angle. The most vivid memory of the night was Kris Kristofferson dropping pass after passperfectly thrown balls too! After many takesand many dropsthe football fan is all of us came out and we starting booingall in good fun! When he finally caught one (right in front of me) the place when crazy!!! I always wondered if all those drops where intentional, because it sure did get the right reaction from us in the stands when he scored.great memories of my youth! Oddly enough, I have never seen this movie in it's entiretyjust glimpses on cable years ago.
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ijonesiii — 20 years ago(January 30, 2006 10:14 AM)
I absolutely love this movie. I cannot even remember how many times I've watched it. I wanted to be Billy Clyde Puckett, Shake Tiller or Barbara Jane Bookman. I didn't care which one. I just loved their completely carefree existence. They just seemed to have such a cool life, I just wanted to be them. Robert Preston was very amusing as Barbara Jane's father and Bert Convy had the role of his career as the leader of the EST- type convention that Billy Clyde attends. I'd love to see a director's cut of this.
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ringneck — 19 years ago(May 01, 2006 11:37 AM)
The movie is OK as it is, what I think it excells at is looking back at the self-help/awareness movements of the time. The film is a great time capsule of a big part of American culture at that point. As teh writting isn't bad, and the actors are good its still enjoyableand the quirky comedy moments just add to it.
BradLaGrange -
dadoo4050 — 19 years ago(June 23, 2006 12:47 PM)
I'm one of the one's who is a big fan of Jenkins's book, but disappointed with this film. If I had never read the novel, I might like this film more.
A more faithful cinematic translation of a Jenkins book is "Dead Solid Perfect." -
phrumpster — 17 years ago(January 28, 2009 11:01 AM)
I know that those who read the book, dislike the movie. I never read the book and
love the movie. Also. I'm a big fan of Michael Ritchie's smile.
I'm going to watch this while the Super Bowl is on. Not every day you see Bert Reynolds fisted, sorry- "pelfed", by Lotte Lenya.
Poets are made by fools like me, but only God can make STD. -
Woodyanders — 16 years ago(July 23, 2009 05:42 PM)
I thought this film was an enjoyably quirky and low-key little winner. Burt Reynolds, Kris Kristofferson, and Jill Clayburgh were excellent in the lead roles. Moreover, Robert Preston was a hoot as the eccentric owner of the football team. And the B.E.A.T. self-help seminar was positively sidesplitting!
"We're all part Shatner/And part James Dean/Part Warren Oates/And Steven McQueen" -
Desperadorrj-1 — 16 years ago(August 31, 2009 12:05 PM)
Big fan of the book, I'm not as hard on the movie as others but was not not happy with it. Jenkins' wrote a second book where Billy Clyde became a sportscaster, Shake a writer and Barbara Jean an actress I think,(I could be wrong) it was called "Semi-Tougher, the Further Adventures of Billy Clyde and Them". Also Jenkins wrote one about Jim Tom Pinch, the sportswriter, called "You Gotta Play Hurt".
I agree, "Dead Solid Perfect" the movie was good. -
gvytui — 16 years ago(October 01, 2009 11:49 PM)
Just watched this on MGM HD and have to say I enjoyed it quite a bit. The script was good, the casting was good, though I felt the film rambled at times and didn't explore more of the football life. Burt Reynolds was fantastic, and this character totally played to his strengths. The satire of the EST training was great; not too over the top, but said just enough to show all the holes in it.
The conversation with the book publisher was also great. Could they ever put some of those lines (merely said in jest) into a movie today? Not a chance. -
richard-865 — 10 years ago(February 02, 2016 05:34 AM)
You were close. Jenkins sequel to Semi-Tough was actually called "Life Its Ownself", and also said on the cover - "The semi-tougher adventures of Billy Clyde Puckett & them"
And yes, I also was not happy with the movie. A huge missed opportunity. -
gverdin-1 — 15 years ago(March 22, 2011 11:27 AM)
While I agree that the movie has little in common with the book I must confess that I find the film funny and entertaining. I especially enjoyed Robert Preston punching Bert Convy while screaming "experience this!" Roger Mosely was great too. And the music was wonderful.
Morons . . . I've got morons on my team! -
dhmason6155 — 14 years ago(May 29, 2011 09:14 PM)
I thought the film was an absolute gem. It had heart and soul and warmth and I felt good watching it, and that was the last thing I expected from a movie about a couple of pro-football jocks. When I put in the DVD, I was ready for two hours of locker room humor, violence, sex and fart jokes. What I didn't expect was a movie about human relationships and feelings. Of course, Kris Kristofferson ads depth and complexity to any movie he does, and I loved seeing Burt Reynolds sensitive side. And the chemistry between them and Jill Clayburgh was excellent. It felt like spending time with old friends.
Stacy - "We got a job"
Uncle John - "What kind?"
Stacy - "The Forever Kind"