Rango

First thoughts: The non-3D is a breath of fresh air. Thank you animators. Now, we shall start.

After an unfortunate accident shatters his glass-cased habitat and separates him from the family that owns him, a wild-eyed lizard is left to fend off enemies and heat in the emptiness of the desert alone, (while three sombrero wearing, instrument playing owls narrate and provide the soundtrack throughout his journey).

On a mission to quench his inevitable thirst, the lizard stumbles upon a 'droughty' town, eloquently known as Dirt. In true western fashion, the reptilian stranger enters a local saloon, and all eyes are on him as he surveys cautiously and requests water from the bartender. The bartender and regulars chuckle at his naivety, as he has gulps down the water substitute: cactus juice. Local Dirt residents -- consisting of mice, toads, and gophers – question who this strange creature is. Eager to establish an identity, he pretends to be a classic gunslinger and dubs himself Rango (voiced by Johnny Depp).

Rango entertains the locals with his dramatic antics – mastery in slapstick comedy – and tells tall tales of killing seven enemies with one bullet. Basically he’s a boldfaced (scale-faced) liar. Cast as the damsel in distress, Beans (voice of Isla Fisher) is concerned about the water shortage and doesn’t cling to our hero as fervently as the rest. The mayor (voiced by Ned Beatty), a wheelchair bound turtle, sees fit to appoint Rango sheriff after he accidentally takes down a hawk, that was infamous for terrorizing the town.  

However, now that the hawk is gone, Dirt’s second least favorite terrorist, Rattlesnake Jake (voiced by Billy Nighy), will be visiting more frequently. When the town’s last few swallows of water are stolen from the bank, Rango’s heroism is ultimately put to test. The town needs someone or something to believe in, casting their faith in Rango. But, still searching for his own identity, does Rango have faith in himself?

As aforementioned, Rango is vivid and keen visually. The film also wins with its physicality, although it should be known, that the actors didn’t sit around recording voice-overs but dramatized the action of the film on a soundstage. Even if our reptilian hero didn’t speak, one could enjoy the physical comedy alone in this one.

The dialogue, however, is a bit of a drag, clichéd and grabbing cues from earlier westerns. And an obscure, Clint Eastwood-type cameo (voiced by Timothy Olyphant) pops up as well. The freshly animated western was quite a pleasant surprise overall, earning it 3 out of 4 stars.