Colorful Satire of the Spaghetti Western Sometimes Seems Too Adult

Rating: 7/10 (25 November 2011)

A perfectly fine little family adventure that won't compete with any Pixar or Dreamworks masterpieces, but doesn't presume to in the first place. Johnny Depp brings what he does to every picture these days - an inimitable lust for life and boatloads of free-wheeling character - but the film doesn't make much effort to move beyond its status as a playground for his zealous voice work. Rango's plot is very by-the-books, and despite several amusing nods and winks to other pictures along the way, is never quite able to shake that burr loose from the heel of its boot. For a PG kids' picture, it also pushes the envelope in several spots with an armful of violence and a dozen jokes that will sail right over a younger audience's head. Didn't really bother me, personally, but it's not something I'll be pulling out for the rugrats until they're a bit older. It's good enough, with a genuinely excellent guest appearance at its climax, but never really approaches greatness.