{"id":471,"date":"2011-03-04T04:00:13","date_gmt":"2011-03-03T21:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dvdpinson.com\/?p=471"},"modified":"2011-03-04T04:00:13","modified_gmt":"2011-03-03T21:00:13","slug":"rango-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemastance.com\/?p=471","title":{"rendered":"Rango Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Rango<\/h2>\n

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\nSticking Rango into one, specific category is impossible. The movie is chameleon-like, touching on and morphing into several different genres as it goes. It\u2019s an animated kids flick and a full-fledged western mixed with doses of mystery and love story elements that are scattered throughout. All moved along by a hysterical musical narrative pulled right out of the 1965 classic, Cat Ballou. Director Gore Verbinski masterfully combines all these components to make an eclectic and hugely entertaining film that defies simple definition. It is all sorts of wonderful and the best film of the year so far.<\/p>\n

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Pinpointing the lead lizard, also named Rango (Johnny Depp), isn\u2019t easy either. After many lonely days with nothing for company but his restless imagination and a couple of inanimate friends (a windup fish toy and a Barbie torso), Rango is able to be whatever you want him to be. He\u2019s not just chameleon-like he is a chameleon. Weather he\u2019s pretending to be a Latin lover or a swashbuckling pirate, Rango sells it. He can assume any identity, he\u2019s just not too sure who the real Rango is once the pretending is over.
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\nAfter his tiny glass habitat falls from a moving vehicle, Rango\u2019s world is literally shattered as he finds himself in the middle of the stark Nevada desert. Rango meets a semi-squashed armadillo that sends our crook necked hero out into the desert in search of the Spirit of the West. What Rango actually finds is town called Dirt, a rough and lawless place that is populated by jack rabbits, toads, possums and bugs, all of which are dressed like extras in an old John Wayne movie.<\/p>\n

As Rango moseys into the local saloon the inevitable observation is made: \u201cYou ain\u2019t from around here, is ye?\u201d With his cunning ability to blend in, Rango quickly fashions a bit of a drawl and lets it be known that he is one to be reckoned with. After a lucky and deadly encounter with a hungry hawk that leaves Rango unscathed, he is deemed the new sheriff and local hero. The position isn\u2019t a very lofty one as the town folk come to him for answers once it becomes known that the water supply is desperately low. Rango will eventually have to show his true colors and discover if he can become the true hero he claims to be.
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\nWith films like Mouse Hunt and the Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy on his resume, Verbinski has effectively been creating live-action cartoons all of his career. Rango is a natural fit and it is pretty obvious that he relishing the visual freedoms that animation can bring. Verbinski employed a new way to pre-visualize his movie, filming the entire thing on a small sound studio with the actors actually acting out the scenes. This gives the animators a real-life, moving storyboard to draw the performances from and the results are apparent. Rango has a unique, organic quality that is filled with nuance and superb comedic timing that couldn\u2019t be achieved any other way.<\/p>\n

As Rango, Depp is loose and witty, injecting the film with energy and vigor. This is merely another example of the chameleon-like quality (see a trend here?) of his abilities as he totally transforms into the character. Other highlights in the cast include Ned Beatty as the ancient Mayor, fresh off of his work as Lotso in Toy Story 3 and Isla Fisher who is nearly unrecognizable as Miss Beans. There are a couple of wonderful cameos of sorts that keeps things exciting as well.
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\nThere are but a few shortcomings here. With a running time of 107 minutes, Rango plays a touch too long and could use some tightening, especially in the early goings. Also, while the colorful cast is fleshed out and well developed, the romance between Rango and Beans is too slight and plays like an afterthought. These are little gripes, however, that don\u2019t really detract from the overall effect. Rango is a fresh and exhilarating film that will be many things to many people. It isn\u2019t just a great-animated film; it\u2019s a great film period.
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