Semi-Tough (1977)

Michael Ritchie was always a director fascinated by competition, and judging by The Candidate (1972), Smile (1975), and this film, it's a subject about which he felt some ambivalence. This mildly raunchy, loose-limbed comedy, adapted from Dan Jenkins' scabrously funny novel, pokes fun at both professional football and the various popular "awareness" groups of the era, framed within the venerable plot about two buddies competing for the same woman. While much of this is quite predictable, a number of the jokes score, Burt Reynolds works his charm overtime, and Jill Clayburgh and Kris Kristofferson are effective as comic foils. Pro football greats Paul Hornung, Joe Kapp, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, and others are also on hand to add some realism to the proceedings. ~ Michael Costello, All Movie Guide