Rango Review

Rango is a movie from Nickelodeon Movies, directed by director Gore Verbinski who previously helmed the Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy of films. The story is simple enough a chameleon "Rango" finds himself in the dessert after falling out the back of a car, and so with his imagination finds himself in his very own western. He heads towards the town of Dirt, where he encounters a very unusual assortment of half beaten or half dead animals all of whom don't have the most welcoming of appearances. He quickly begins spinning a tale of his badassery of which of course is a complete fabrication so that he appears like a tough as nails wanderer. He is then thrust into the position of town sheriff and is soon overwhelmed with the amount of things that require his attention. Rango not knowing who he is outside of these roles he makes up for himself goes along with it. But defeating the incredibly smart and unrelenting Hawk, and finding water for the town are only the easiest things he is going to have to do.

Rango is the first fully animated CGI feature film made by ILM, normally a visual effects house for some of the biggest movies around including Iron Man, Transformers and even Star Wars, this time they get to create an entire movie in their unique and incredibly talented vision, with the oversights of Verbinski of course. Having ILM work on the movie as if they were an animation studio pays of in huge dividends almost immediately with easily the best looking animated movie ever made no exaggeration. The dessert looks appropriately hot and dusty the animals of the typical wild west town of Dirt also look decrepit in the worst way possible these aren't adorable pandas or tigers that also happen to know Kung-Fu these are animals that have lived in these parts their entire lives and are not the better for it. With ILM at the helm they quickly establish their penchant for immense levels of details from the local cigar smoking bullfrog or the half-insane chicken with an arrow sticking out of his eye and out the back of his head, these creatures aren't cute and cuddly but it helps sell the tone of the film which is not meant for children of any ages, and that's awesome.

Rango is the most bizarre not when its taking its main character through acid trips very reminiscent but also unsurprisingly similar to sequences from Fear and Loathing in Las Veags-- another Johnny Depp starring film-- though granted that's pretty damn strange but when its indulging in the fact that its a straight up no holds barred western. Its astounding really how much this isn't a typical childrens animated movie, while there may be anthropomorphic animals the movie is smartly written and would leave any 10 year old or younger completely bewildered at the words leaving these characters mouths. The movie presumes the audience are avid movie lovers and leans heavily on references to hundreds of films, from specific shout outs and winks and nods to ripped straight from other movie sequences like the Fear and Loathing sequence mentioned above. There are countless moments were movie lovers will laugh or chuckle just because of the situation from another film being played out sometimes jokingly by talking animals. But don't think this is purely a look into making a balls out trippy adult themed animated movie, there are some genuinely adorable moments and simple comedic moments, as well as some incredibly well realized action set pieces that pretty much out due anything ever seen in an animated movie in both their scale and execution.

One thing I usually don't delve into too much is cinematography but this movie is masterfully shot, taking full advantage of the fact that they can move the camera freely throughout the scenes they have created in this animated world, they set up some truly breathtaking shots. Considering this movie is completely animated some scenery looked downright real. It adds to the sense of immersion when you start to believe that this is real and actually happening, even when a rattlesnake with a revolver replacing its rattler shows up. The voice actors are also pitch perfect not doing funny voices but just adding quirk and accents to liven up the characters so beautifully created by ILM. Johnny Deep as per usual blows it out of the water with his rendition of Rango, a fast talking neurotic chameleon who doesn't know who he is and thus he fittingly blends into these characters he creates from his imagination.

Rango isn't perfect though falling into predictability pretty quickly and unfortunately filling the space between its well written dialogue with testicle humor or wacky behavior made even more off putting given how far the movie normally strays from the trap of a slapstick animated kids movie. Some things are also overlong taking time from more interesting characters, like Jake the Rattlesnake voiced well by Bill Nighy, who doesn't get much screen time, yet a certain unbelievably intelligent bird gets too much. I would have liked the movie to take more risks considering it already goes so far down that direction, but i guess the entire movie was risky enough as it is.

Rango is truly the biggest risk I've ever seen an animated movie take, completely ignoring any appeal to younger audiences and aiming squarely at movie lovers and adults. And while it may look kid friendly and to some extent it is, then the many references to balls or its gleeful portrayal of a violent old western should clue you in. Either way Rango is a stunningly beautiful animated film with witty fast dialogue which breathes such a fresh air into overcrowd pandering animated film market.

(4 out of 5)