In this film, the relationships depicted in a college escort service were not made credible for a single moment. Yet the cast deserves credit for creating a set of interesting characters and for keeping the pace flowing in this film in desperate search of a message.
It appeared as though the filmmakers wanted to depict the college escort girls as becoming addicted to the swanky lifestyle while hanging out at the Sky House and connecting with wealthy older gentlemen. But this thesis was never demonstrated because the relationships were all too wholesome.
It was especially the connection of the business major Rochelle to old Saul, a CEO and a moneybags, that was essentially no more than an executive assistant, as Rochelle was given important tasks to perform that gave her invaluable experience in the business world. Appropriately, she received a letter of recommendation from Saul for study in a prestigious MBA program. Their relationship was non-physical until Rochelle pressed the matter and ol' Saul dropped dead of a heart attack on a hotel bed!
The relationship of Sasha with Ken actually culminates in marriage. Even Tessa, who has a falling out with Leo because he goes bankrupt, continues as an escort after she moves to New York City. Contrary to the intent of the filmmakers, the experience of SugarBabies came across as glamorous and lucrative with the young women never in danger of being exploited.
Even for the protagonist, art history major Katie, her attraction to James seemed like a fairly conventional relationship until he vanishes from the scene. But Katie obviously holds a special place in his heart, as apparent in his guilt when she returns the $7,000 he advanced her for an internship in Florence. If there is any real villain in the film, it is the current exorbitant costs of a college education, where Katie racks up over $700 in textbook expenses on her first day at school. One can truly see why Rochelle, Tessa, Sasha, and Katie are desperate to going into a staggering debt before they graduate.
A central reference point in the film was the recurring image of a Renaissance painting of a Venetian courtesan. The Renaissance courtesans were actually urbane and talented women, who could hold enlightened conversations as well as conduct shrewd business transactions. Whether intentional or not, the filmmakers were creating a fictionalized version of a group of modern courtesans that obviously do not exist at Montlake University or anywhere else on the planet today.
It appeared as though the filmmakers wanted to depict the college escort girls as becoming addicted to the swanky lifestyle while hanging out at the Sky House and connecting with wealthy older gentlemen. But this thesis was never demonstrated because the relationships were all too wholesome.
It was especially the connection of the business major Rochelle to old Saul, a CEO and a moneybags, that was essentially no more than an executive assistant, as Rochelle was given important tasks to perform that gave her invaluable experience in the business world. Appropriately, she received a letter of recommendation from Saul for study in a prestigious MBA program. Their relationship was non-physical until Rochelle pressed the matter and ol' Saul dropped dead of a heart attack on a hotel bed!
The relationship of Sasha with Ken actually culminates in marriage. Even Tessa, who has a falling out with Leo because he goes bankrupt, continues as an escort after she moves to New York City. Contrary to the intent of the filmmakers, the experience of SugarBabies came across as glamorous and lucrative with the young women never in danger of being exploited.
Even for the protagonist, art history major Katie, her attraction to James seemed like a fairly conventional relationship until he vanishes from the scene. But Katie obviously holds a special place in his heart, as apparent in his guilt when she returns the $7,000 he advanced her for an internship in Florence. If there is any real villain in the film, it is the current exorbitant costs of a college education, where Katie racks up over $700 in textbook expenses on her first day at school. One can truly see why Rochelle, Tessa, Sasha, and Katie are desperate to going into a staggering debt before they graduate.
A central reference point in the film was the recurring image of a Renaissance painting of a Venetian courtesan. The Renaissance courtesans were actually urbane and talented women, who could hold enlightened conversations as well as conduct shrewd business transactions. Whether intentional or not, the filmmakers were creating a fictionalized version of a group of modern courtesans that obviously do not exist at Montlake University or anywhere else on the planet today.