Wonderful character development!

Just what I expected

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

I loved this film so much. I thought it had a brilliant story-line, the idea that Sam couldn't pay for his tuition and how they came up with an escort service that helps to pay was very original. Kyle Gallner was amazing as Sam, but he wasn't the only good actor of the bunch. I am sad that this film wasn't made more well known, because I thought it was excellent. I was pleasantly surprised because I thought that mainly it would be about the women trying to find solace in the young boys, but it was the other way round. Overall I would say that Cougars, Inc. is a great film (especially if, like me, you love Kyle Gallner!) with a very good story-line. I would rate it 9.5/10 and say that it is suitable for anyone mature 13+.

Maybe the posters where made shallow and uninteresting on purpose. Maybe the name of the movie was intended to be just plain. I won't lie; I thought it was going to be a shallowness festival in the form of a strange spin-off of a 'Fitch trying to score Stiffler's Mom' film. I was pleased to see it wasn't.The movie has a strange timing that's sort of uncomfortable in the first ten-fifteen minutes, but once you get used to it and you find out the reason of the strange configuration of the movie (It's just a bunch of notes of a quite too smart teen), you can go with it. I really end up liking it, it make sense to me how it was told. It's not pretentious, it is what it is.Performances where nice: Kyle Gallner, in the skin of witty and kind of sweet Sam, fits perfect in this casually messy kid who finally finds his place in the world and will do anything to stay in his little personal paradise. In addition, his chemistry with James Belushi and Kathryn Morris is not forced at all. Belushi plays the role of cool school teacher with elegance, and accomplished some nice moments just by staying quiet and staring into others' eyes like trying to figure them out. I love Denise Richards too: She's not trying to be nice, but you end up kind of liking her.It's classy and nice when it could be a mess, and way better that what it seems. Just like Sam learned in the movie, not everything is what it looks like, and this film certainly isn't.

K Asher Levin is obviously a guy who thinks about smooth natural dialog, cos this movie is full of it. It seems adlibbed almost and this is an obvious strength for him as a writer and director. He's gone for the realistic vibe on this movie with under produced sets and lighting, taking it to a gritty vibe, and it's pretty damn good for that. He's taken what could have been a terrible Hollywood sleazefest and turned it into an indie edgy piece. There are flaws, that you can overlook with some suspension of disbelief. James Belushi's character is too cool to be anyone's teacher but he delivers it convincingly. The guys are a little too everyman but maybe that's the point, but if they're everyman then the swinging older women were too hot. Ultimately this is watchable and more importantly it shows some real promise for the director/Writer.

"Heroes aren't born, they're cornered". I didn't know Mickey Rooney said that, but according to Dean Fox (James Belushi) , he did. I couldn't agree more. It takes guts to try pull off an adventure of this nature, involving unsatisfied, lonely mature ladies, but it takes guts too to make a hero, inasmuch as the word can imply.Lately we've seen a string of movies involving mature, horny ladies, most of them forgettable disasters. I was unsure about this one, but all things put together, it was an enjoyable movie. The theme, yes, might be risqué, but it was a well done and mature story. Several acting roles are highlights in this one. Kyle Gardner, as Sam, made some powerful scenes as the young escort service manager, too young to tackle a venture of this nature, but yet, mature enough to behave responsibly and respectfully. The scenes involving heart to heart conversations with his High School Dean were well done. James Belushi, of course, is a veteran of such, and I couldn't help smiling at his conversational quirks and facial expressions. So like Belushi.That is another of the strengths of this movie. It never vilified or sullied women, whatever their sexual preferences, nor did it ever make them look vulgar or cheap. These women craved love, there were some nice, horny boys around willing to please, the ladies were willing to pay for a good time together, Sam needed the money to pay for his tuition, so you had a deal. There was no attempt to make things seem dirty, it was just a circumstance that happened. The nice thing about it, too, no one ended up as enemies. Everyone was mature enough to understand the situation and act accordingly, so despite the obvious scandal in the end, the story ended well for everybody. It was not a fairy tale ending either, in case you think this was another tear-jerker. Everything was plausible and very believable.There was no stupid behavior, brainless monkeying around, boys acting stupidly like I've seen in other movies. That too was another plus in this one. The ladies were pretty and nice to them, the boys were also nice and gentlemanly with the ladies. I think the screenwriter of this plot likes women and respects them, and it shows in the story. That's so nice to see.But like everything in life, there are consequences. The final 'showdown' talk between Sam and his friend Dean Fox was heartbreaking, but so very very true these days, where families are dysfunctional and...well. not quite families anymore. Powerful acting in this scene. Both actors show their talent.Bottom line, then, not a ten-pin-bowling strike of a flick, but very enjoyable, intelligently done, and time well-spent. Highlights notwithstanding, when you think of it, this is a very difficult movie to film and pull off.I think you will like the style of this one.