I can't wait to see how many people will pick up a copy of "Stay Hungry" when the new DVD release catches their eye in video stores. Standing prominently on the cover is a buff Arnold Schwarzenegger, and I'm sure a ton of people are going to think its some big action flick starring the new governor of California. However, they will be a little off the mark as "Stay Hungry" actually stars Jeff Bridges and Sally Field in a rather odd little movie about real estate, love and the body-building craze. Jeff Bridges stars as Craig Blake, a young entrepreneur (well it was made in 1976) who buys a small gym with the expectation of tearing it down in order to make room for a new high-rise office building. He meets gymnast Mary Tate (Field), and Joe Santo (Schwarzenneger), a Mr. Universe hopeful.

As he gets to know these odd characters he finds himself drawn into their world, falling in love with Mary Tate along the way. Once he realizes there's no way in the world he can tear down the place that houses the hopes and dreams of these characters, it becomes his goal to stop the demolition.

Quirky is a word that really fits "Stay Hungry." It's one of those comedy-dramas that entertain you simply because all the characters that make up its world are so odd. As Mary Tate, Field is cute, perky and quite lovable, while Schwarzenegger's Santo tends to be a lot more philosophical that you would normally imagine a body-builder to be. You also have R.G Armstrong, who as Thor Erickson has undeniably the worst toupee in movie history and Robert Englund as Franklin, in a role as far removed from Freddy Kruger than you could ever imagine. There are more, but this particular group really goes all out to make the film as unusual as possible.

There aren't that many extras on the new MGM DVD release of "Stay Hungry", but the film wasn't really what you would call a hit when it originally came out. It did mark extremely early appearances by Field and Schwarzenegger and some say it really put them on the map. There is a video introduction by director Bob Rafelson, in which he seems totally uncomfortable in front of the camera. It only runs about 5 minutes, and he does have information that would be interesting to new audiences so do be sure to play it before you watch the movie.

The really big surprise of the disc is an all-new commentary moderated by Rafelson that includes both Jeff Bridges and Sally Field. I would have thought that these two would be way too big to spend time doing a commentary on a film that came so long ago in their careers, but they did. It's a fairly entertaining commentary to boot, mostly making fun of how young everyone looked and a few funny anecdotes. I was curious to hear what they would have to say during one particular scene between Bridges and Field that takes place on a stairwell. They start to make out heavily, with all manner of clothes peeling off and what do they talk about? A particular type of video monitor. I almost laughed out loud because it seemed like they were going to completely ignore the activity onscreen, until they got to the next scene which features an uncommon site on film. Field butt naked... head to toe... from behind. At this point Rafelson commented on how proud she was of this scene, and Field went off about how uncomfortable it is to be naked when no one else is, to which Bridges replies that he WAS naked... under the sheets. Priceless.

I liked "Stay Hungry" when I first saw it years ago and it features some very unusual, yet highly entertaining performances by its stars. I really don't think I would recommend to just anybody however because of it's quirky nature. But if you like unusual movies with characters that don't conform to the norm, I think you just might like it.

Directed by: Bob Rafelson
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Sally Field, Arnold Schwarzenegger
Extras: Audio Commentary by Director Bob Rafelson, Jeff Bridges and Sally Field, Video Introduction by Bob Rafelson, Original Theatrical Trailer
Specifications: Widescreen (1.85:1) Enhanced for 16X9 Televisions, Full Screen, Mono
Studio: MGM
Release Date: 5/18/2004
Region 1
MPAA Rating: R
Website

We'll give Stay Hungry a B-.