Rango

Rango

Director – Gore Verbinski
Writer – John Logan

Starring – Johnny Depp and Isla Fisher
An animated comedy poking fun at the Spaghetti Westerns of old, this movie packs a ton of references into a funny little package.

We start with a thespian lizard playing Shakespeare to an audience of none, but his fortunes change and a bit of quick thinking lands him a role as Sheriff of the town of Dirt.
That’s right, Dirt.
Dirt is in the middle of the desert, and as such, water is power.
Power isn’t really what our hero is good at…he’s much better at being self deprecating and afraid…but he does this with excellent comedic timing. Heh.
The real push for me as an adult though…was all of the other references that have been thrown in. Don Quixote, Planet of the Apes, Fear and Loathing, Pirates of the Caribbean…there’s even a cameo by a certain western star, though it’d have been far better if he’d actually done the voice.

On top of the quotes and references…the movie is beautifully animated and hilarious in its own right. Playing the fourth wall is well done here, it doesn't take itself too seriously. I don’t think you’d have been disappointed in spending the price for a ticket…so now that I’ve posted this months late…don’t feel bad about a rental. It is definitely worth the time.

Came in at number 5 for now…though I think it’s kind of a tie with Battle: Los Angeles…really just depends on what you want to see, explosions and aliens or comedic lizard western?


-enjoys a hearty puttanesca