Customer Reviews

Semi-Tough [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have to respectfully disagree with many of the other commentators and "reviewers" on this particular film. In truth Semi-Tough is a daring, imaginative, and intelligent reinvention of classic Hollywood comedies of remarriage, (Ritchie's model was The Philadelphia Story) from the point of view of Ritchie, who was influenced by the observational, loose camera styling of documentary work as much as he was influenced by the sort of sharp, merciless social satire of American foibles and set not in a drawing room but in the world of pro-football.

All three leads are perfect. Each works well off the other two, and one of the astonishing things about Semi-Tough is how it manages to dip into the lowest of farcical and sexual humor and yet retain the dignity and verbal sophistication of the writing from the thirties and forties. Convy is perfect ( and perfectly sleazy) as a Werner Erhard imitator and it is the greatest fun to see a movie so willing to criticize and lampoon so many cherished movements and fads that would come to dominate our lives in this country even more so in the three decades that followed this movie. The movie is relaxed about sexual matters. It concerns mature, adult themes and manages to tonally shift throughout from burlesque to genuine intimacy between its characters. It both respects and criticizes the world of sports and actually gives informed perspectives about how awful all of the earnestness of some of these spiritual movements can be for those that get caught up in them. Burt Reynolds is the sane center of the film: his common sensical rejection of a culture that takes itself too seriously and his playboy libertine ways are a great foil for the dilemma of Jill Clayburgh's falling in love with Kris Kristofferson. Semi-Tough has wonderful moments and comic vignettes that, though they contribute to the movement of story, reflect a different attitude towards storytelling in the 1970s and exist for their own sake, respecting the art that actors engage in. Even Brian Dennehy is interesting as a neanderthal, stereotypical jock; though he is brutish you never lose a sense of the humanity present. Robert Preston and Lotta Lenya only add to the fun.

Is it dated and terribly 70s? Yes and that is a virtue here because it is also a sociological document, a time capsule, in keeping with Michael Ritchie's background in documentary. You never know what will happen next in a film like this. Even the ending seems to run off the rails, becoming a different kind of movie completely, which shows daring on the part of the makers since they had no qualms about shifting a movie from one emotional center to another for stylistic effect.

Semi-Tough is from a time when filmmakers were genuine artists and took chances, even in the confines of a big budget studio movie. For that and all other reasons listed above I recommend it without any reservations.

i found semi tought to be well played out and humorous throughout there was never a dull moment.bert rynolds is one who keeps the movie flowing with his same personality that he had in smoky and the bandit years kris kristofferson is a good at playing off of bert rynolds but the one that holds the movie together is jill clayburgh she is sexy and at the same time logical her carector

This is an OK film that attempts to skewer both professional sports and new age encounter training and falls short on both counts. To be truly great satire you have to lacerate your intended targets not merely tweak them. It seems the makers of the film were so afraid to offend their intended targets that they took a cowardly approach to their subject matter. Shockingly, the film was directed by Michael Ritchie whose previously satirized brilliantly beauty pageants and organized children's sports in "Smile" and "The Bad News Bears" respectively. Ring Lardner Jr., who wrote the script for "M*A*S*H", had his name taken off the credits. Sole redeeming qualities are a charismatic turn by star Burt Reynolds and a funny turn by a young Ron Silver as an Iron Bloc placekicker.

The first pairing of Burt Reynolds and Jill Clayburgh (the second being "Starting Over") is a lightweight and slightly unusual satire/romantic comedy that aims at a broad range of targets and manages to hit quite a few of them. Clayburgh seemed to specialize in offbeat characters in the 70's, and this was no exception. She is B.J. Bookman, daughter of the owner of a football team, and she lives with her father's two biggest stars, Billy Clyde Puckett (Reynolds) and Shake Tiller (Kris Kristofferson). Seems the three have been friends all their lives, but now romance has erupted between B.J. and Shake. Will they make it to the altar, or will B.J. realize she should be with Billy Clyde instead? The ending isn't hard to see coming but the ride is fun, and along the way the film takes some amusing jabs at hard-partying athletes, sexual mores, bizarre fitness rituals, and self-help gurus. Definitely worth a rental, especially if you enjoy the occasional guilty pleasure of watching movies where Burt is Burt.

"Semi-Tough" is not a movie for everyone. For those who love sports, sick humor and love the politically incorrect, this is definitely your movie. Dan Jenkins (suthor) makes great fun of pro football and the preliminaries leading to the Super Bowl. While the movie is about a Texas team (the Dallas Cowboys?), the foibles are applicable to most pro teams. Sex, boozing, and offbeat behavioral science are the ingredients, Jill Clayburgh, Robert Preston,Burt Reynolds and Kris Kristopherson are the players and they are downright fun, if a tad unbelievable at times (remember, this is a spoof). While it fails to reach the hilarity of the book, this movie provides more than its share of laughs, many giggles, and some downright guffaws. It is not for the politically correct or weak of heart!

Do yourself a favor, read the book. It is so much better than this nonsense.

Semi-Tough is one of the few football movies I never got around to seeing until the other day and I am sorry I waited. It is a humorous, energetic send-up of football, celebrities, and post-sixties New Age mumbo-jumbo. As for what another reviewer said about Jill Clayburgh, I have to agree, she's completely miscast here, but that's my only acting criticism. I think Reynolds is outstanding in this role and really stands out. He is compelling and believable as Billy Clyde Puckett and his presence basically carries the film. What I found most unique and valuable here, however, was the satire involving Friedrich Bismark and BEAT--which was a paper-thin roast of Werner Erhard and EST. It is rather courageous that this movie decided to tangle with those parasites in the way they did, but it remains a rare example of Hollywood using its special position in society to advance the public good. There are other inventive parodies here as well such as the owner's devotion to "moveogenics," and Reynolds having to get "pelted" by a quack doctor. On the whole, Semi-Tough is a good bit of fun and also has something to say to its audience.

This movie has nothing to do with sex or football, just timeless story of trying to get the girl.... Marketed as 'sex with a football' it missed most of the more inteligent people in the world.... this is along the lines of Leslie Nielsen or "The Gods must be Crazy" spoof movies, it is a spoof on EST, (the Forum, and other names), pyramid power, and maybe, even magnets... this is a story of getting "IT"... con-artists and all.... It has jokes on the '80s soul seeking people and the company 'self-improvement' seminars.. control by the 'master' or if you prefer, 'deep tissue' massage, anything to 'release' you from the 'bonds' of your past... If any of these sound familiar this is your movie to laugh at... they did a good job here, but then maybe only coorporate people from California will appreciate this joke on the 70s, 80s, or does it go on....? You have got to get "IT", if you don't get "IT" then you don't get "it"..... sound like a joke on religions, too?

I'm only giving this four stars instead of five. It's not high film art like say Deliverance but it does serve a purpose. If you or a loved one or friend is getting sucked up into the latest self-help guru or movement like the Law of Attraction or Wayne Dyer this is a must see. Semi-Tough parodied Est and many of these things. If you ever considered paying for your "special" mantra this is for you. It is an incredibly funny parody of these movements and gurus. My favorite scene is when Burt Reynolds attends the seminar to "pull its pants down". You are supposed to be in the seminar room and not leave to go to the bathroom. It's the classic cult brainwashing technique of humiliation. But Burt has strapped one of these hunters pee bottles to his leg and you hear the tinkle into the bottle has he has this big grin on his face.

Its okay, but should I have bought it on DVD after having it on VHS?