Don't be fooled by the fact that Rango is an animated film. It's also a razor-sharp send-up of Westerns that, while certainly not inappropriate for children, is clearly geared towards adults with a deep knowledge of movies. The plot is heavily inspired by Chinatown ("The future, Rango! The future!"), but clever nods to other classic movies abound. Apocalypse Now and Fear Loathing in Las Vegas are referenced, and there is even a cameo by Clint Eastwood's character from The Good, The Bad The Ugly.
The story centers around a pet chameleon (voiced brilliantly by Johnny Depp) who suddenly finds himself stranded in the barren Mojave Desert after he falls out of his owner's car. Having never lived in "the real world," he must adapt quickly in order to survive. He eventually stumbles upon a desert town called Dirt that is in the midst of a catastrophic drought. In order to gain acceptance, he invents the name Rango and pretends to be a legendary gunslinger straight out of a John Wayne movie. The town's inhabitants buy into Rango's act and immediately name him Sherriff, making it his responsibility to save the town by finding out who is stealing the water supply.
First and foremost, Rango is really well-made. Visually, it's spectacular. The bright, occasionally psychedelic animation is some of the best I've ever seen. The writing is witty and funny, and the voice acting is outstanding. Although I mentioned that it references many other films, don't get the wrong idea – Rango is incredibly creative and original in its own right. I have a feeling that someday this will be a cult-classic amongst film nerds. It was also the winner of the 2012 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
Rated PG – 107 Minutes
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