Rango

Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Rango. Directed by Gore Verbinski. Written by John Logan. Screen Story by John Logan, Gore Verbinski & James Ward Byrkit.

Review #106

MPAA Rating: PG for rude humor, language, action and smoking.

Runtime: 107 min

Cast

Johnny Depp - Rango / Lars

Isla Fisher - Beans

Abigail Breslin - Priscilla

Ned Beatty - Mayor

Alfred Molina - Roadkill

Bill Nighy - Rattlesnake Jake

Stephen Root - Doc / Merrimack / Mr. Snuggles

Harry Dean Stanton - Balthazar

Timothy Olyphant - Spirit of the West

Ray Winstone - Bad Bill


The world of animated films has taken us to places that we have never been before. Sometimes they take you to a place that existed at one time or another. Like the wild west. This film brings you to that world in it's clearest, dangerous and most beautiful form.


Rango is a typical house chameleon who gets separated from his family on a road trip in the desert. In his travels, he stumbles across the town of Dirt. A lawless outpost in the Wild West in desperate need of a new sheriff. Feeling the desperate need to be accepted and popular he fabricates his life story to the townspeople. They are more than willing to accept him for who he says he is so he can help the town solve their severe water shortage.

The first thing to take away from this movie is the look and animation of the animals. It is beyond first rate. In fact it buries the look of the owls in Legend of The Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole. These creatures are so life like combined with their incredibly fine tuned detail, it was just a treat to watch. However, it's that same detail that could be a weakness for the film in the sense that the animals are very creepy looking. Since the setting is a western desert town, the population is made up of various types of lizards, spiders, bats, snakes and so on. They are also dingy and dirty looking to match the western theme. The end result could be rather spooky for the little ones, especially when Rattlesnake Jake appears. So I would proceed with caution if they are the skittish type.

Of course great animation doesn't mean jack unless you have talented voices lending their talents to bring these creatures to life and Rango has that in spades. The voice cast is just tremendous highlighted by Johnny Depp's performance. You can hear in his read that he's really digging the character and just has a ton of fun making Rango his own. Holding his own with Depp is Bill Nighy as Rattlesnake Jake. This was one badass scary character and Nighy's snarly take just ratchets up the tension that the Jake creates.

If I had to quibble about one thing with Rango it's that the story has a small case of an identity crisis. It's not funny enough to be a straight out comedy. Yet it's not serious enough to be a drama either. The film carefully toes the line between the two. The balance is managed just right but I fear that because of the setting of the film in addition to the not so cute critters that roam around this picture that it falls into a movie limbo.

It's good enough for older audiences but just kiddie enough to bring in the ankle biters.

Overall, Rango was a fun film that was an absolute treat for the eyes in terms of look, presentation and detail. The cast was exceptional and the animation was above top notch. I can't stress this enough. Leave the "little" little ones at home for this one. The look of the animals might freak them out. I would say anywhere from 9 or up is good enough.

On the 5 star scale. Rango gets 4 stars with a "Worth Every Penny" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today. Up next is Battle: Los Angeles. 

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"