Movie Review: "Rango"

Seen on: March 4, 2011

The players: Director: Gore Verbinski, Writer: John Logan, Cast: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Bill Nighy

Facts of interest: Verbinski also helmed "The Ring" and "Pirates of the Caribbean."

The plot: Rango is a pretty insecure chameleon who gets lost in the desert and later stumbles across a small town in desperate need of water.

Our thoughts: Gore Verbinski’s “Rango” is a whole lot of fun to watch on the big screen; I can tell you that much. Loaded with eccentric characters and a solid amount of enjoyable action moments paired with fresh humor, this animated adventure easily goes down as one of the more memorable films of 2011. “Rango” sure has its imperfections, but in terms of fast-paced family fun, the movie definitely delivers on its commitment to entertain its audiences.

Giving the film a compelling kick is the fact that its hero is a rather ugly chameleon blessed with a wild imagination that comes in quite handy during his big quest for self-discovery. Rango’s journey begins early on in the movie, when he gets stuck in the Mojave Desert and later stumbles across a small town inhabited by a bunch of creatures desperate for someone who can bring them new hope.

The sudden disappearance of water has left the residents of Dirt struggling for survival, but with the arrival of Rango and his made-up tales of bravery, they rediscover the courage to pull through tough times and do whatever it takes to improve their situation. Sadly for Rango though, he quickly realizes that being the new sheriff in town comes with responsibilities he’s clearly not ready to assume.

First and foremost, “Rango” is a total pleasure to look at from a visual point of view. The animation is gorgeous throughout, the amount of detail you get to observe is mesmerizing, and the strength of the film’s beautiful texture and its vivid colors will simply make you gaze in awe at the big screen. Visually, I can honestly say this is one of the most fabulous animated flicks I’ve seen in a very long time.

Along those same lines, the film also boasts some incredible action sequences that instantly capture your full attention and let you be part of the adventure, which pays quite the impressive homage to the genre of the classic American Western. From a bunch of loud gun battles to a few thrilling pursuits and a pretty intense showdown, Rango’s definitely got his hands full trying to protect the good people of Dirt. 

This ties in with the movie’s weak spot, which is its inability to decide on what direction to head into in terms of storyline. “Rango” does a fine job developing its main character, but in terms of plot, things get a little messy and inconsistent after a while. Verbinksi and his team don’t waste any time with unnecessary scenes, but it does occasionally seem like they tried to overstuff their film subplots and side characters that could’ve been kept to a minimum.

At the end of the day, this remains a minor issue, so let’s not worry about it too much. Johnny Depp is the man bringing Rango to life, and he’s got all the energy he needs to give a voice to a hilarious chameleon who pretends to be the toughest cowboy around. His co-stars include Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty and Ray Winstone, and they all hit the right notes with their vocal performances.

Freaky quote: "Believe in that there sign. For as long as it hangs there we've got hope." - Johnny Depp

The final word: “Rango” is a true delight, both visually and in terms of entertainment. It delivers the goods on many levels, and it will undoubtedly leave you with a decent smile on your face. I mean, who ever thought that watching the adventures of an ugly chameleon could be so much fun? Verbinksi is an expert at what he does, and with “Rango,” he proves he’s got quite the eye for first-class animation.

On the web: http://www.rangomovie.com/

Article by Franck Tabouring