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.
