Any fans out there?

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.

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 cold---which was impossible. They kept moving the couple of thousand of us who were there all over the place so we would be in the shot--not matter the angle. The most vivid memory of the night was Kris Kristofferson dropping pass after pass---perfectly thrown balls too! After many takes...and many drops...the football fan is all of us came out and we starting booing...all 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 entirety...just glimpses on cable years ago....

The book was great. The movie just intensifies the stereotype that 90% of 70's movie & TV was worthless. I agree Dead Solid Perfect is closer to the book.

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.

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.