Movie: "Rango" (2011)

[Bob Pr.]

"Rango" 107 min., "PG" rating for language. CGI animation. Currently it's rated 7.8/10 on IMDb: Rango (2011) - IMDb Roger Ebert rates it 4 of 4 stars: Rango :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews 89% of the critics surveyed by "Rotten Tomatoes" are favorable: Rango Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes

Trailer: IMDb Video: "One Last Time" from Rango

A thespian wannabe lizard (voiced by Johnny Depp) accidentally ends up in a western town ("Dirt") and by accident (and chutzpah) becomes its sherriff -- and through a series of further accidents (and using his acting skill) saves the town and ultimately gets the girl.

"Rango" is far more fun for (and is specifically directed at) adults than kids; some parents will feel it's not suitable for their children. While the story can stand alone, the more cowboy westerns and movies you've seen, the more fun you'll have watching this because it uses bits and pieces from many of them to spin a classic story in a tongue-in-cheek way. It goes far beyond being a "Blazing Saddles" kind of parody, done with animals in all the roles typical of classic westerns.

Well, almost all.

A CGI animated version of Clint Eastwood makes a brief appearance as the "Spirit of the West" driving a golf cart loaded with 4? Oscar statues.

The characters the various animals play are all marvellous and distinctive. The computer graphics by Industrial Light & Magic are incredible--the textures of everything (lizards' and snakes' skin, birds' feathers, animals' fur and hair) are extremely realistic. The director is the same as for the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise. There are so many allusions to so many different films, some film buffs will see it numerous times to identify the references (e.g., "Chinatown," "Fear & Loathing in...," "Apocalypse Now," etc., etc., etc.).

Very funny, very enjoyable, it has both its cerebral and slapstick sides. I rate it 11 of 10 stars.

But definitely not a film everyone will love. If you have any questions or doubts, read the few negative reviews in "Rotten Tomatoes" &/or in IMDb's "User Reviews": Rango (2011) - IMDb user reviews