Rancho Deluxe

Despite a preoccupation with puncturing the myths of the modern West, Rancho Deluxe operates most noticeably, and in the main successfully, as a slickly packaged youth movie. Although given a narrative about cattle rustling, the film is just as much a present day generation gap comedy, about the romps of two 'cowboys' (one white, one Indian), whose disdain of establishment values and notions of the 'freedom' of the West bring them into perpetual confrontation with reactionary elders. In keeping with the audience it is aimed at, the film is self-consciously cynical and insolent, and at the same time fundamentally romantic and seeking to be liked. The combination works surprisingly well, thanks to good ensemble acting, even if Thomas McGuane's script sometimes veers towards sentiment and smart-ass observations.