The Ranch

This is NOT a film based on the book "The Ranch". However, it was fun. The music was good, could have been enhanced more. A few scenes should have been longer but the mother-son team of the Stevenses di well considering it was first time they worked together and first feature length film directed by Stella. Given more money, the film could have been better but still worth the view.

The Ranch was a most excellent movie. It had a great story that that took place on a Canadian dude ranch. A city slicker receives a letter saying that he had inherited a ranch. So, he goes to "the ranch" to check it out and realizes it is in need of some serious financial help. Utilizing the mud baths that sit on the property, he comes up with the idea to start a spa. Everyone at the ranch works really hard and they pull off getting some customer's to come to their spa. But, do they get their money to the bank in time? Or does the insurance company seize their ranch and leave them without a home?

"A must see!" -says The Advisor

Unfortunately, this movie isn't easy to come across, but the copies that are available are worth the trouble.

The Ranch marks actress Stella Stevens's directorial debut and what her film The Ranch lacks in budget it makes up for in two respects. Fine location cinematography in Alberta where most of the story is set and a fine leading man who had an in with the director.

If Stella couldn't call on her son Andrew for a favor now and then he'd be a most ungrateful child. The rest of the cast is made up of Canadian players I doubt you've heard of. As for Andrew Stevens he delivers a fine performance in a pleasant and easy to take comedy/drama about a ranch he inherits from an uncle. Comes right about a time when this ad man is looking for a change in career.

He inherits the ranch and also the debt it's drowning in. He also inherits a staff of sorts, but they're not exactly a paid staff. Turns out the uncle won the ranch in a poker bet and the others simply stayed on hoping it would turn around. So did the daughter of the former owner.

What Stevens does discover is that there's a mineral spring on the place and it feeds some healing mud. So an idea germinates in the head of the former ad agency executive to turn the remote place into a health spa.

The Ranch is about the obstacles Stevens overcomes both financial and social. He gradually adapts into the western life while not losing his selling skills.

The climax I have to say is a bit bizarre. But I guess it comes under the heading that people can do amazing things when their backs are to the wall.

The Ranch is not a great film, but it is easy to take entertainment and fine work for the mother and son team named Stevens.