MOVIE REVIEW: Rango, the Chameleon of the West

"Rango" is one of the few movies this year that shines bright in this usual bleak season. It's combines a tribute to the spaghetti-western of the 1960s with a moving story that families would enjoy. Between the motion-capture process of the actor's expressions and movements,  beautiful scenic backgrounds, amazing vocal performances, and no 3-D gimmick; "Rango" is the first family film of 2011. 

We meet the chameleon they later call Rango (Johnny Depp) as he creates a cinematic glass enclosed stage with the help of a headless Barbie torso, a dead insect, and an orange wind-up fish. Suddenly, he is thrust from the glass terrarium to a world he never knew. With no clue of where he is and no direction on where to go. Rango gets a quick lesson in surviving his new outdoor desert surroundings. He meets an armadillo who points to a nearby by town of Dirt to find water. Once he entered the town’s lone saloon, he created the identity of Rango and crafted the story of taking down a whole posse with one bullet.

After stopping a "big bird" in the sky due to a combination of cowardice and sheer dumb luck, he is quickly made the town’s sheriff where he has one mission in life; to protect the town’s supply of water as it slowly dwindles over time. With outside forces at every turn, Rango realizes that he could be what the town needs and play the ultimate role of hero.

Depp, who voices Rango continues to shine in every role he brings to the big screen and Rango is no different. Working with Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski for a fifth time, Depp delivers a playful, witty performance that the audience would appreciate. I loved the fact that the cast recording sessions were run like a live theater. It gives the film’s story more depth with the character improvisation and emotions in every scene.

For the movie buffs out there, you will appreciate the time-honored movie western traditions from the “High Noon” climax to the action leading to the final showdown. You will see some movie icons popping out at the screen. Be on the lookout for the Spirit of the West and Hunter S. Thompson. Among my favorite things of “Rango” is the mariachi owl band that provides the color commentary during the movie and the beautiful score by Grammy-Award composer Hans Zimmer. I have a great feeling that after this weekend, you will remember the Legend of Rango.

 GRADE: B+

“Rango”, is Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies release, is rated PG for rude humor, language, action, and smoking. Running Time: 107 minutes