Rango

2011  PG  ANIMATED  1h 47min

CAST— Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Abigail Breslin, Ned Beatty, Alfred Molina, Bill Nighy, Stephen Root, Harry Dean Stanton, Timothy Olyphant, Ray Winstone

MUSIC— Hans Zimmer  DIRECTOR— Gore Verbinski

     Wow. An absolute triumph of animation from start to finish. Meet Rango, thespian extraordinaire, as chameleonic on stage as he is in design. This little lizard knows how to walk the walk and talk the talk. But when he’s stranded in the desert with no audience he is lost. When he wanders into the aptly named town of Dirt he steps into character as a gunslinger who’s seen and done all. He is soon elected sheriff in this thirsty burg whose residents are desperate for a hero. Rango and his newfound friends search the desert for a water supply but their mission is fraught with danger, riddled with bullets and full of funny. A throwback to the Westerns of yesteryear yet delivered with modern style. The design is like an anti-Finding Nemo (2003); whereas Nemo was all colorful aquatic beauty, Rango is at the other end of the spectrum, showcasing beautiful desert vistas and a unique, grotesque spin on wildlife (what the heck are some of these things?). Thirsty yet? Final note: though aimed at the kids this film does contain mild language and violence, so heed the PG. Extended version also available. Oscar-winner for Best Animated Feature.

OUR RATING— *** ½