Review - Rango

Changing the Landscape of Animation

Rango (voice of Johnny Depp) has always led a life of luxury. In his controlled environment, he was the master of all. But when an unfortunate accident leaves him stranded in the middle of the desert, he learns to fend for himself and establish his new identity.

Now in the west there are strange things around every corner. Becoming a member of a town means finding a niche. In the town of “Dirt” the Mayor (Ned Beatty) has the keys to the city. That key, of course, is water. Now with Rango in town, there is a new sheriff that will keep things in order and keep the town ahead of the curve.

But can Rango establish himself as something he’s never been? Will his acting background help him to take on this new challenge? And will this new persona lead to positive changes in the sleepy town of Dirt?

Rango is an animated film that really breaks stereotypes. For much too long, despite the advances of the Pixar films, people have viewed animated films as “kids” fare. Rango is not really “kids” fare. This is one of those films where the wheelhouse seems to be older teens or even young adults. The swagger of the west includes a number of violent shootouts and cigar chomping moments. For many of the youngest kids this film is not in their league, nor does it try to be.

And that’s what makes sequences of Rango so cool an hip. Not pandering to the sterotype of the genre, Rango instead charts a new course for animation. A course that is a welcome change, it is refreshing to see an animated film that sets its own rules. With a cool lead like Johnny Depp, Rango is able to find a hip place in the lexicon of animated films. Depp brings style and a large amount of swagger to his character that explodes on the screen.

Unfortunately the film felt like it dragged through a muddy plot at times. It didn’t use its break out feel to really shoot out of its box. Despite a decent little premise and a fun cast of characters, I felt the film was a touch off.

Despite that, Rango is easily one of the more fun adult focused and interesting animated films to come along in a long time. Rango may be changing the way that we view animation; welcome to the shootout in a popular genre.

B

Rango
Paramount Pictures

Director: Gore Verbinski
Cast: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty

Rating: PG for rude humor, language, action and smoking.
Runtime: 107 minutes.