Rango is a masterfully written western revival

Rating: 7/10 (6 March 2011)

Getting separated from his owners as they drive through the desert, aspiring thespian chameleon Rango finds himself in Dirt, a small "Wild West" town that is suffering from a drought that is suspected to be caused by a conspiracy. Knowing that he is a stranger in these parts, Rango creates himself an entire new life (including the name Rango) that makes him into a heroic outlaw and lands him as the town's new sheriff. With gritty and masterful writing, Rango comes to life as homage to the classic western with themes and humor that play well with the adult crowd, but of course featuring light-hearted slapstick styled material to allow the younger viewers to have some fun. With great animation an entire ensemble of characters comes into existence before our eyes, using a new technique of "emotion capture" where the actors actually performed each scene rather than standing in a studio just recording their voices. Johnny Depp is so far gone into his charismatic yet insecure character of Rango, giving him a real heart and soul to carry as the film's protagonist. Other characters are portrayed by Isla Fisher, Ned Beatty, Abigail Breslin and a menacingly vicious performance by Bill Nighy. For his first animated feature, I think Gore Verbinski has done a wonderful job at bringing an alteration of a classic tale, one that is a rarity in films today. From its great writing to its strong performances, this is a film anyone will enjoy with a geniusly incorporated reference to a previous Depp film, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and capturing the true "spirit of the west".