MOVIE OF THE WEEK #4 (3/4/11): RANGO
Credit: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures © 2011 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Stephen Root, Harry Dean Stanton, Timothy Olyphant and Ray Winstone
WRITER: John Logan (screenplay); John Logan, Gore Verbinski and James Ward Byrkit (story by)
DIRECTOR: Gore Verbinski
WEB SITE: www.rangomovie.com
THE PLOT:Set out in the American Southwest, Rango stars the voice of Johnny Depp in the title role of a green lizard who has quite the vibrant imagination inside of the aquarium he calls home. But when an accident caused by the presence of Roadkill (Alfred Molina) throws his world into unexpected chaos, Rango finds himself in uncharted territory: The harsh world of the desert.
Eventually making his way to the town of Dirt, Rango runs into a cast of gruff-but-colorful characters straight out of the Old West. This includes Beans (Isla Fisher), a fellow lizard with a unique defense technique trying to save her late father's farm, local banker Merrimack (Stephen Root), the young and blunt Priscilla (Abigail Breslin) and the Mayor (Ned Beatty). Charming his way into the town's good graces, Rango eventually becomes the town's sheriff before learning of what is causing stress throughout the town of Dirt: A lack of water. And once the town's water supply gets stolen from the bank, Rango finds himself having to become the thing he's always wanted to be: A hero.
Whether or not he's up to the task, however, remains to be seen ...
THE TAKE: First things first, Rango is not - I repeat, NOT! - a children's movie. While it's not South Park in terms of language or content, please don't mistake the cute little lizard nor the Nickelodeon Studios tag on the film as great entertainment for those under double-digit age. With nods to things such as Hunter S. Thompson, some light language, deaths and a fantastic nod to Clint Eastwood, the film's referential material will likely be lost on most people age 18 or younger. Likewise, the film's pacing and visuals are much more suited to a mature audience (there are some pretty intense sequences/visuals for an animated movie) or, at the very least, those in grades six and up.
Now, if none of that is an issue for you, you're in for a treat - for Rango is one of the best non-Pixar, non-sequel animated films in years.
Co-writer/director Gore Verbinski and his team have created a marvelously told coming of age story that tips its hats to classic westerns with a maturity that says more Stanley Kubrick or David Lynch than Walt Disney. Rango is a creature with human-level problems, from identity to living up to expectations to not being afraid. There are issues such as the economy, haves vs. have nots and death in play right from the beginning and there are some rather intense actions sequences that rival anything you may have seen recently in a Star Wars, Star Trek or any other sci-fi flick. Much in the same fashion Toy Story 3 tugs at you in a sentimental fashion, Rango keeps your attention by having its inhabitants treat their situation with just as much enthusiasm in happy and sad times alike.
Of course, this wouldn't work as well as it does without a good dose of voice acting by the film's cast, who each do their very best to bring a good mix of levity and seriousness to the picture. All of the characters no matter how big or small add to the story in one form or another, with the film's animation team (which includes the heralded folks at Industry Light & Magic) showing off just how far technology has come by creating some of the biggest, brightest visuals ever seen in animated film. Mix it in with a soundtrack that does an excellent job at creating and reflecting the character' individual moods and Rango rolls along well from beginning to end.
PARTING SHOT: While probably not what most people will expect from an animated movie starring everyone's favorite pirate captain, Rango pays wonderful homage to the West, Western films and has a chance to be the best animated feature of the new year.
RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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