Definitely a kids film at heart and a good one at that.

Rating: 8/10 (3 April 2011)

'RANGO': Four Stars (Out of Five)
Industrial Light & Magic's first animated feature film and it's a beauty. I think it's the best looking animated film to date, the CGI animation is breathtaking! The film also marks the re-teaming of director Gore Verbinski and Johnny Depp (after making three 'PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN' films together). In the film Depp voices a chameleon who falls out of his owners' car and becomes lost in the Mojave Desert. He then finds a town of assorted animals living out in the Wild West in need of a sheriff. The film is written by John Logan, James Ward Byrkit and Verbinski. It's a pretty dark and somewhat mature animated film that some have argued is not a kids film. I think while it does have plenty of appeal for adults as well it's still a kids film at heart and a very good one at that.
The film's title character is in fact a chameleon named Lars. Lars had always dreamed of adventure outside of the terrarium where he lives and when it falls off his owners' car on the highway he's forced into one. He first meets an armadillo named Roadkill (Alfred Molina) with mysterious healing abilities and tales of a 'Spirit of the West'. Roadkill encourages Lars to venture out into the desert so Lars does and is almost eaten by a hawk. He then finds the town of Dirt and lies to the locals telling them of adventurous duels he's been in. He also tells them his name is Rango. After he kills the deadly hawk with luck the town looks up to him and makes him their sheriff. He's then tasked with the responsibility of solving the town's water shortage, which is like gold to the animals living in the desert.
The film, like I said, is very dark and filled with ugly looking characters, mature jokes and references as well as a fair amount of violence. It also has plenty of kids humor as well though and a heart and uplifting message too. A good kids film should appeal to adults as well and this one definitely does. It's got elements of western, comedy and a little spiritual drama (it's very psychedelic at times which is fitting for a Johnny Depp film). The movie doesn't talk down to kids and most of the jokes are not too cheesy or silly (although there are a few). It's a little slow in places but never for too long. The animation like I said is the best I've ever seen in a feature length animated film and the movie as a whole rivals the best of Pixar and DreamWorks. It's not the best animated film I've ever seen but it's definitely among them.
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