O Rancho do Amor

No pun intended - being in a safe space and place is always a good thing. Even more so if your job is ... selling yourself. Not sure about the term Ranch, but I reckon that is a way to describe a house that holds women who sell themselves - we all need money after all. And hey they are not cheap, so they may only need to do it for a shorter amount of time then others.

That all being said, the actors are decent (you know I had to) - but only when it comes to their ability to act of course. There is a lot of nudity, which I didn't expect to be honest, but it does make sense. You cannot be sensitive if you plan to watch this ... just be sure that is the case and you'll be good ... a good boy that is ...ok I'll stop right here.

I didn't expect much of this film, but it somehow grabbed my interest and held it for the full length. I admit I was disappointed at the rather abrupt ending; it left the impression that the producers ran out of money, or film. But that being said, it was decently acted, and as another reviewer said, it presented thought-provoking concerns. I found myself rooting for those gals, most of them, which means the film made me care about their lives, and I consider that the mark of good theater.

As to the lack of real sex or actual nudity, I rank that as positive. It gave the expectedly raunchy plot-line a bit of unexpected class. I could better relate to these girls as real people with real issues.

I watched this because Susan Seidelman directed it. I guess she needs the work. I guess Amy Madigan (a respected actress and deservedly so) does too.

In the first case, it's not really a story. There's no cohesive story line with a beginning, middle, and end. It's more of a slice-of-life. Boy, is it silly and predictable. It portrays the lives of some prostitutes at a Nevada brothel. It has the requisite violence-against-a-prostitute scene. Can't one of these films NOT have that? Is there anything good about this movie? Well, Samantha Ferris, the actress who plays Taylor, has a smoldering sexuality and great appeal and Jessica Collins, the actress who plays Kim, is exceptionally lovely. Oh, Paige Moss, the chick who played Veruca on Buffy the Vampire Slayer plays a really mean prostitute named Rickie Lee -- always good to see a Buffy alum. However, this movie goes nowhere and resolves nothing. The songs are very good (especially the Erin Mckeown song) and all the actresses seem to have real breasts! Yes -- shocking -- I know -- but they all have real breasts! No silicone in sight -- astounding. It really made me think about how infrequently we see real breasts in plastic-surgery-crazed Hollywood productions anymore.

The Ranch had some entertaining moments, but overall, it felt pretty average. The story offered a mix of comedy and drama set in a rural backdrop, which made for a unique setting, but it didn't fully deliver on its potential.

One of the strengths was the cast; they did a decent job with the material, especially in portraying the ups and downs of family relationships. There were some genuinely funny lines, and a few heartfelt moments, but they were often bogged down by clichés and predictable plot twists that kept the story from feeling fresh.

While the rural setting added a nice touch, the humor and storylines sometimes felt repetitive, and the pacing was inconsistent. The show could be enjoyable if you're just looking for something light and familiar, but it didn't quite stand out enough to leave a lasting impression. If you're okay with a predictable ride, The Ranch might be worth a watch - but don't expect too much.

...this film is not nearly as provocative as the cover would lead you to believe. The brief sex scenes are few and far between, and, apart from the bare breasts of many of its leading ladies (which earns this movie its four points), the skin shown is no more than would be found in a mainstream film. The sex itself is shown only in a comical manner, which is not only a letdown to men who watch it to be titillated, but to women who watch it to be emotionally moved. The strong female bonding aspect of the movie could just as easily have been portrayed without trying to gain access to the male demographic who would only spend their hard-earned 75 cents renting it because they thought it was some decent soft-core action.