Cast: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Bill Nighy, Alfred Molina, Ray Winstone, Harry Dean Stanton, Ned Beatty, Timothy Olyphant
Plot: Rango (Depp) is an ordinary chameleon who accidentally winds up in the town of Dirt, a lawless outpost in the Wild West in desperate need of a supply of water and ideally for Rango a new sheriff.
Gore Verbinski has a habit of making films that just pass me by without notice. 'Mousehunt', 'The Mexican' and 'The Weatherman' are three of these films and his most recent movie 'Rango' very nearly joined them. His other movies are part of a little known franchise called 'Pirates of the Caribbean' starring Rango himself Johnny Depp. It seems however because of the 'Pirates' trilogy Verbinski was allowed to do whatever he wanted with his animated western because lets just say it's slightly off the wall.
The Johnny Depp factor is one the main reasons I didn't see this film straight away (he is getting tiresome), but I am very glad I eventually saw 'Rango' because this is not your typical children's animation film. Starting off acting a bad stage production in his glass box, Rango is flung from his owner's car and onto the windscreen of none other than Hunter S. Thompson's convertible. This gag sets the tone for the movie. This is what made 'Rango' so enjoyable for me personally in that there were jokes and references to films adults would laugh at rather than just having a Johnny Depp lizard acting like an idiot.
That's not to say Rango isn't an idiot because he most certainly is. After falling from his owner's car and stumbling across the lawless desert town Dirt, Rango thinks it would be an ideal place to continue his acting - as a legendary gunslinger. While the character Rango could seem like just a stupid moron (which he is) he has a certain charm that makes him an extremely likable character. There are few that would think pretending to be a cold blooded killer in a frightening Western town would be a good idea, but you get the impression from the opening scenes that Rango has had a somewhat stale life in his glass container.
As for the town Dirt it is a classically Western except it is inhabited with a variety of desert animals and they are all fascinating creations. The level of detail and design that had gone into the animals is truly remarkable with each looking like that specific animal, but with a Western twist. Just on a purely visual level the characters are great but luckily they are funny as well. From it's title hero and love interest Beans (Fisher) to the town's mayor Lynch (Beatty) and terrifying villain Rattlesnake Jake (Nighy) 'Rango' has so many beautifully designed and interesting characters that I found it hard not to love this film at times.
The film felt like an adult Western turned into a children's animated movie and it works perfectly. All the tropes from classic Westerns are brought in but with a different spin that adults will appreciate. References to films like 'Chinatown' (the plot is taken straight from Polanski's classic), Sergio Leone Spaghetti Westerns and 'Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas' will please older members of the audience while there is more than enough harmless fun to keep younger viewers entertained.
There are several superb action sequences throughout Rango with my favourite coming near the beginning where Rango desperately tries to evade an oncoming hawk. While there are several sequences that might be lost on children; a scene with the Spirit of the West (who looks uncannily like a Western icon) springs to mind it is unlikely to ruin the movie for them. Chances are they will enjoy Rango and the towns people's insane antics just as much as adults, as previously stated this is such a bizarre but fun movie. I am also going to go out on a limb and say this may be the best looking animation film I have ever seen, as Verbinski has a clear style and his animators stick to it.
The voice cast is absolutely fantastic with Verbinski casting people that suit the roles rather than who's popular right now. Depp is fantastic as hapless chameleon Rango while Fisher does a great job of nailing the "Rancher's daughter" accent and showing both Beans' tough and sweet sides. The standout though are Bill Nighy as Rattlesnake Jake who delivers each line with such cynicism that he may give some kids nightmares (Maybe me as well). Alfred Molina and Timothy Olyphant have small but memorable roles while Ned Beatty is great as the so obviously evil town mayor who reminded of John Huston's classic villain Noah Cross from 'Chinatown'.
'Rango' has a few issues; there isn't much in the way of plot until the final third where the writers forgot that their had to be a resolution and there's a bit sag in the middle when the movie really feels like it has no direction, but it far from derails the film. Also since the film strives to be like a classic Western those with a bit of knowledge of the genre know exactly what will happen, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but just worth noting. These however are just minor complaints in what is a fantastic animated comedy western with animals.
'Rango' was a really unexpected surprise. From the beautiful animation, smart comedy and Western tropes this is a classic animation film. And although it may get lost in the desert halfway through the unique characters bring it back on track for the explosive ending. The beautiful animation is unlike anything I have seen and is by far the best looking animated film I have ever seen. This film is such a treat and enjoyable experience and shouldn't really be missed.
Rating:
No comments:
Post a Comment