A Review of "Rango"

Dry desert land, tumbleweeds, gun-slingers, corrupt politicians and a desperate town called Dirt in need of water to survive, all turn to a witty, thespian of a chameleon to save them. His name is Rango. The movie starts off showing Rango as a pet with no companions except for the toys to which he has assigned personalities for his theatrical amusements. Within the first 5 minutes of the film we know that Rango would be tossed from his plush, yet lonely, home. He literally says “ what our hero needs is an ironic unexpected event that will propel our hero into conflict!” And with that, his terrarium is tossed from the car and crashes on the sizzling road. That is where Rango’s story begins.

The CGI animated movie Rango is a modern twist on the classic western told through the eyes of desert animals. Rango is a pet chameleon who is thrust out of the lonesome existence that he knew and into a world dependant on water. He sees an opportunity to make friends and become a new character, a tough gunslinger of a sheriff for Dirt. He soon realizes that the character he has made up for fun is the very person he wants to become, if not for him, for the town. The water in the town has run dry, save for the mayor’s, and the town cannot survive without it. Our hero, voiced by Johnny Depp, makes friends and foes, voiced by stars such as Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin and Ned Beatty, to try to help save Dirt from evil plots, theft and drought.

Throughout the Gore Verbinski directed animated feature, the audience can expect witty jokes that not only pertain to the plot line, but also call attention to the movie itself. Writers John Logan, Gore Verbinski and James Ward Byrkit have drizzled in quips that poke at the formulaic western genre and seriousness that trails with it. They include everything from puns, to witty social commentary, to jokes at their own writing styles. Dipping their fingers into most notable westerns, modern and classic, Rango’s writers incorporate the moments we love the most. The plot line is similar to all westerns but is presented in a refreshing way that had me chuckling and cheering.

Along with witty writing and a wonderful cast, the aesthetics are truly breathtaking. The CGI animation reaches new levels with its use of motion capture and attention to detail. The beloved cinematic western shots are recreated for the film, such as riding into the sunset or trekking along the sandy desert. The compositions of the shots and the smooth incorporations of surrealist sequences set it apart. It is definitely the gritty yet vibrant settings, the dazzling special effects and the characters, so realistic that it looks like you could touch them, that bring this film to be a visual delight.

Although the classic western story is rehashed, it is truly charming and fun to watch. Rango exceeded my expectations from a cute animated feature for children to a witty, beautiful film that an older audience could enjoy.