Shot on location in breathtakingly scenic Montana, Rancho Deluxe is based on an eponymous Tom McGuane novel about a couple of goofy cattle rustlers who are just out to have some fun in life. The rustlers start out as small-timers knocking off a cow here and there, and selling the meat to pay the rent and get laid. Then they concoct a foolish "big score," which seems to be known by everybody in the county except the even more foolish rancher they plan to rip off. The rancher hires a "genius" stock detective to figure out what's going on but, despite his reputation, the stock dick appears to be barely ambulatory, and seems to do nothing but take naps and watch TV while his simple-minded niece tends to him.

It boasts a great cast with no lead players - nothing but character actors in a character-driven story. Slim Pickens, Jeff Bridges, Sam Waterston, Harry Dean Stanton, Elizabeth Ashley, and others keep the tone light and oftentimes bordering on surrealistic as the film moseys toward its inevitable conclusion with just barely enough plot to sustain it. You will probably understand the tone of the movie when I tell you that Jimmy Buffett wrote the score. (Livingston Saturday Night is from this film). If a movie can be called laid-back, this one can.

Rancho Deluxe seems pointless, but it's just plain fun to watch!