Stay Hungry is a most appropriate title for this clunker. It simply whets the appetite but leaves one wanting more. Here we have rich kid Bridges as a real estate entrepreneur taking on some shady business to shut down a gym, quite unfairly. Once he gets to know some of the professionals therein, he has a change of heart as he realizes his shallow and sheltered life has had no meaning, and to expand his life makes all the difference. He falls in love, makes new friends, and learns some lessons about himself. Sounds a little too dramatic for a comedy? It is.
Our performances are up to par. Jeff bridges , who ALWAYS satisfies, is deliciously adorable. perhaps too much for his own good. Always likable and with no real room to grow, yet his character is supposed to, and when he finally does, we don't see much of a difference. Pretty monotonous from start to finish despite that he is enjoyable as usual. Sally Field is on target. Spunky, beautiful, charismatic and serious when called for. Being the token lead female leaves very little for her to work with but her talent for a blended cocktail of comedy and a downfall in her arc is zesty and spicy, with a trace of sugar. The only character that shows as much range with ingredients despite the fact that she doesn't have much to do. R.G. Armstrong is predictably, and I do mean PREDICTABLY sleazy and scuzzy. Nothing beyond the common sourness in his performance the accompanies his bitter characters. Then there's Arnie. Simply, Arnie in what is said to be his first role. A fresh meal of protein. Healthy, no?
The early appetizers are not delectable enough when they don't blend. performances are too serious when this should be a comedy. That alone leaves one begging for another dish. the main course is just as lacking as the story is too serious for it's own good. Rafelson tries to put mashed potatoes next to the olive tapenade and two invariably mash together for a rather nasty taste. It's a magnificent premise that could easily go wrong, and does. primarily in the last reel. We're given some that easily could pass as a #Me Too moment in 2018, before the cream pie is served for dessert. Should have sdome coffee with cream in the middle.
The film can't make up it's mind how serious it should be, or how funny. It's not catty or snarky, and the blandness eradicates any positive taste no matter how good it smells. Next time I'll opt for popcorn and leave it at that.
Our performances are up to par. Jeff bridges , who ALWAYS satisfies, is deliciously adorable. perhaps too much for his own good. Always likable and with no real room to grow, yet his character is supposed to, and when he finally does, we don't see much of a difference. Pretty monotonous from start to finish despite that he is enjoyable as usual. Sally Field is on target. Spunky, beautiful, charismatic and serious when called for. Being the token lead female leaves very little for her to work with but her talent for a blended cocktail of comedy and a downfall in her arc is zesty and spicy, with a trace of sugar. The only character that shows as much range with ingredients despite the fact that she doesn't have much to do. R.G. Armstrong is predictably, and I do mean PREDICTABLY sleazy and scuzzy. Nothing beyond the common sourness in his performance the accompanies his bitter characters. Then there's Arnie. Simply, Arnie in what is said to be his first role. A fresh meal of protein. Healthy, no?
The early appetizers are not delectable enough when they don't blend. performances are too serious when this should be a comedy. That alone leaves one begging for another dish. the main course is just as lacking as the story is too serious for it's own good. Rafelson tries to put mashed potatoes next to the olive tapenade and two invariably mash together for a rather nasty taste. It's a magnificent premise that could easily go wrong, and does. primarily in the last reel. We're given some that easily could pass as a #Me Too moment in 2018, before the cream pie is served for dessert. Should have sdome coffee with cream in the middle.
The film can't make up it's mind how serious it should be, or how funny. It's not catty or snarky, and the blandness eradicates any positive taste no matter how good it smells. Next time I'll opt for popcorn and leave it at that.