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Rango poster

CAST (VOICES OF)
JOHNNY DEPP
NED BEATTY
ABIGAIL BRESLIN
ISLA FISHER
ALFRED MOLINA
BILL NIGHY
TIMOTHY OLYPHANT
STEPHEN ROOT
HARRY DEAN STANTON
RAY WINSTONE

STORY BY
JAMES WARD BYRKIT
JOHN LOGAN
GORE VERBINSKI

SCREENPLAY BY
JOHN LOGAN

PRODUCED BY
JOHN B. CARLS
GRAHAM KING
GORE VERBINSKI

DIRECTED BY
GORE VERBINSKI

GENRE
ANIMATION
ADVENTURE
COMEDY
FAMILY
WESTERN

RATED
AUS: PG
UK: PG
USA: PG

RUNNING TIME
107 MIN

 

RANGO (2011)

Western myths infuse with the story of a lizard facing an existential crisis. His name? Rango.

Voiced by Johnny Depp, Rango sees the eccentric thesp winning back some points after a disastrous 2010 saw his stock drop considerably.

Depp’s quirky method sensibilities have always been praised, yet less so are his talents as a voice artist. Rango is set to change that, with Depp ploughing through a series of accents (often evoking past turns in Don Juan Demarco and Pirates of the Caribbean), in his portrayal of a lonely soul trying to find himself. This is Depp having fun, and we are all the merrier for watching.

A patchwork of western conventions, with a touch of Chinatown and The Road Warrior to boot, Rango stars Depp as (ironically) a chameleon with a flair for the theatrical, but no sense of identity.

Wondering through the harsh desert, he comes across a small town called Dirt, and bluffs his way into becoming Sheriff, vowing to save Dirt from a relenting drought. All the while he must contend with a homicidal rattlesnake (Bill Nighy), an ambitious mayor (Ned Beatty), and a fiery red head (Isla Fisher) who he has fallen in love with.

Directed by frequent Depp collaborator Gore Verbinski, this is an animated feature which will play better for adults and older kids, with the slightly morbid characterisations, realistic circle of life depictions, and acid trip influenced visuals, sure to go over the head of youngens who will no doubt be freaked out by, and unawares of the many goings on.

Technically, Rango is a wondrous film to watch. The detail in its character animation is especially superb, with the quasi-monstrous qualities to some of these characters adding grit and personality.

Voice acting is also top quality. A featurette released not long ago presented how Verbinski had his actors not merely voice, but act out their performances on a sound stage, with props and costumes evoking naturalistic actions and reactions, and it shows.

Yet this is a film that places as much stock on the journey of its central character, with Rango seeking the meaning of his existence in a spiritual quest of often comical and adventurous proportions.

The masterstroke of Rango is placing his journey in the western genre, with its world of heroes, villains, and legends offering many avenues for this existential trip to unfold, to the combined sounds of Mexicano Owls singing of certain death and Hans Zimmer’s always dramatic compositions, and the surprise appearance of two legendary figures (no spoilers here) which will perk the interest of many.

If anything, this is the perfect movie for adults to introduce their kids to the world of manic westerns of the Sergio Leone kind. Yet even for those not savvy to “The Dollars” trilogy, a good time will be had.  

****
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