DVD REVIEW: RANGO

You should've seen the enthusiasm on my friend's faces when I asked them if they wanted to go see "Rango" with me: none. They were too busy seeing "Battle: Los Angeles" which I heard got awful reviews. I didn't see "Rango" merely for the acclaim it's gathered, I saw it because I thought it genuinely looked good, and an animated western about a chameleon is better then 2 hours of blowing LA up anyways!

The PG rating is a little misleading, not because of the age-appropriate content but it isn't really a kid-oriented film. "Rango" is for adults who can understand its rapid-fire pop culture references, or film buffs (like myself.) There is a pivotal scene featuring a "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" version of Clint Eastwood that guides Rango in the right direction. What 7 yr. old is going to understand that? "Rango" is aimed toward that audience that can catch the cultural riffs but also put up and just enjoy the nonsensical entertainment it offers.

The animation is just perfection. Just perfection. It is easily one of the most immaculately animated films I've ever seen. You see every scale on Rango, every feather on his nemesis the hawk, and every tooth on the hilariously despicable villainous "Jake the Snake." It really is like animals dressed up in little spaghetti-western clothing and talking in comical southern accents! Speaking of voices, Depp is just spot-on for his role as the indecisively theatrical lizard, changing from confident, arrogant Rango to scared and not so sure of himself Rango. Isla Fisher (Borat's wife) also is endearing as Rango's love interest, the exceedingly simple Beans, who is just hilarious to look at it in herself. But what may be the best aspect of "Rango?" It's not in any eye-crossing 3-D; besides the images nearly jump out of the screen already.

 Look past the weird poster of a chameleon holding the mechanical goldfish and go see "Rango!"

Rating: 2.5/4 stars