Rango Review

• 8th Aug 2011

A Western comedy about a CGI chameleon-turned-sheriff? Who better to provide the principal voice in such a peculiar concept than king of kooky Johnny Depp. The film also reunites him with Pirates of the Caribbean director and master of insightful aesthetics Gore Verbinski.

Rango’s unremarkable little life as a pet chameleon is a nice play on his species – all he’s really good at is blending in. His journey to defying his background (and evolutionary purpose) is every bit as bizarre as it sounds and lots of younger viewers will love the action, the old school spaghetti western sound effects and the colourful cast of characters battling it out in Gore’s strangely exotic junkyard desert. Wonderfully thoughtful details – like the bar in a gas can – give every scene real depth and are evidence that this film deserves taking home to watch again and again.

For the grown-ups, there’s more than just sumptuous colours and textures; references including Fear and Loathing and memorable Clint Eastwood characters give the film that subtle adult edge (so you won’t feel guilty rewatching it without the kids!). It’s something that previously only Pixar had perfected and Rango sets itself apart even from their back catalogue because those rich visuals are, in all honesty, pretty trippy – sometimes mind-spinningly so. It could also be said that the action is a little too adult at times, but that really depends on your opinion of exposing children to virtual violence – these desert showdowns are, after all, between animated lizards (among other creepy critters) dressed as cowboys.

The cast bring yet another dimension to the entertainment. Depp, master chameleon that he is, provides Rango with a nervous, twitchy quality to his voice that contrasts with his (literally) thick-skinned appearance. It becomes calmer and stronger as his faith in himself grows, slipping back with perfect comedic timing when things go awry and contrasting starkly with the rasping tones of Bill Nighy’s big bad villain Rattlesnake Jake. Isla Fisher gives an impressively convincing performance as matter-of-fact southern belle Beans, showing that she too can assume many an identity in the movie world. And let’s not forget the owl quartet with their musical narration!

Speaking of music, Los Lobos provide several songs including the Rango theme for that fiesta feeling, but it’s Hans Zimmer’s twist on the traditional with quirky, modernised western tracks and an interesting mashup which really drive the film forward.

At 107 minutes it’s long for an animated movie, but every scene is so captivating and paced, the time flies. Extras include director’s commentary, the extended version and an alternative ending, which may not add much, but demonstrates the fact that Verbinski is a true visionary. We can only hope there is no sequel because Rango is definitely one of a kind!

Lauren Felton