If you can picture a Robert Louis Stevenson novel with beautiful naked women, you get some idea of what Vixens of Bandelero is all about.

While I wouldn't exactly describe this film as elegant, high adventure in the same classical breath as Stevenson, it certainly makes good economy of lush, tropical atmosphere and the romance of the sea as a starting point.

Vixens of Bandelero is the story of the three feisty O'Shea sisters (Lisa Butand, Kelly Wild and Nicole Dernenberger) told through the eyes of a writer who doubles as one of the sisters in the telling of the story. Their father, Irish Charlie O'Shea, has a fatal heart attack, and his ranch is on the verge of being taken over by a banker who sounds a lot like model agent Jim South. The girls ask for a sixty-day extension on the note, knowing that there's a possibility of scoring a big pay day via their late father's business partner, who needs help in recovering treasure from a sunken galleon. (Only there's a poacher in the midst who tries to thwart the girls in their search, and that presents the major obstacle.)

The banker's willing to make the deal with the girls, thinking he's going to get sex in the bargain. He gets squat. He must life in Los Angeles.

The plot plays a little like the old Birds in Paradise four-parter that made the rounds on the Playboy channel years ago, and the picture doesn't score too many cultural points on the acting front. Nor does it in sound editing, where lots of dialogue is drowned out by obtrusive scoring. And it's questionable about its decision to mix genres. A whole chunk of the film plays like a faux western with a mock gunfight and western dude-type lingo – the whole effect being somewhat incongruous and rhythmically out of sync with its contemporary themes.

HOWEVER, the film excels most fluently where Bennett Marine Video has scored so highly in the past – with its gorgeous, textural essays of beautiful women posed au natural. Girl watchers should have a field day with the trio of lovelies in Vixens… as they cavort in the sane and surf of many exotic ports o' call.

If the company's name sounds familiar, you might be already aware of its highly popular "Mermaid" video series with titles like Mermaid's Fantasy, Mermaids Illustrated, Mermaid's Passion, Mermaids of the Aztec Empire, Mermaid of the Golden Galleon; Flesh, Sea and Symphony, Mermaid in Hedonism II and others. These videos are all first rate with staggering production values and, of course, beautiful women. Id rate this series as the best alternative shot-on-video product currently available on the market.

The story of Vixens of Bandelero is that it was made at the request of the Bennett Marine Video fans who wanted to see a full-length movie from the company. They get their wish, and hope springs eternal that Bennett may try doing it again.

This is certainly a noble first effort. Suggestion: let's go for a lighter touch and more humor the next go-round.