: Rango
The previews of this animated film looked awesome and indeed the film is gorgeous with some of the most wonderful characterizations of creatures ever seen. The way the animals look like animals yet still look human is amazing. That feature alone is worth the price of admission. Johnny Depp as the voice of Rango gives a flawless performance of the wild title character, a domesticated chameleon who wants to be a thespian, as he’s thrust into an old desert Western town where he accidentally becomes the sheriff. Unfortunately, his shtick gets a little old after a while and it isn’t enough to hold up the weak story which meanders and takes forever to get us down its predictable path (it’s about a bad guy hogging all the water supply, a plot that feels straight out of an episode of Bonanza or The Big Valley). There are moments of terrific fun, some good action, and the story isn’t terrible (just routine), but the film’s inconsistent and occasionally awkward. Some things just don’t quite work. It’s still worlds above most animated fare, but falls short of Pixar standards (it lacks the emotional wallop Pixar repeatedly delivers). Another disturbing aspect was that the film is quite adult at times, which feels odd. For instance, early on “actor” Rango seduces the headless nude torso of a female mannequin and in a barrage of dialog throws out, “Are those real?” Funny, yes, but no adults laugh because it feels inappropriate in a kids’ film. That happens several times. Some of the violence seems too realistic for kids as well. Yet much of the film seems geared toward very young children, leaving me wondering if the creators even had a target audience in mind. The bottom line is that Rango is a good film. It’s fun, interesting, and breathtakingly beautiful. However, I was expecting great and it didn’t quite get there, so for me it’s a little disappointing. I’d like to watch it again on DVD and I suspect I’ll like it better the second time as I’m more prepared for what I get. But it’s worth seeing just for the fantastic artwork.
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