Rango

Sometimes, the best way to make a typical western story original is to stick with the beloved stereotypes of the genre. The film’s focus was on character & story and that is reason for its success. The design of “Rango” is what makes it 3.5 stars in my book as opposed to 3 stars. The cast is quite reputable and once again, Johnny Depp’s vocal performance is just slightly different from anything else he has done. Thus we get an original character that the audience can root for.

This film has an overused story that we have seen in such family films as “Three Amigos”, “The Road to El Dorado” and “A Bug’s Life”. It also can be likened unto “The Seven Samurai”, “Back to the Future: Part III” and “The Magnificent Seven”. Anyone can take this kind of story and tell it with animals so why does “Rango” work as a successful movie? Part of the reason is that the stereotypes in the film are not parodied as much as other filmmakers would have. Rather than create a full on satire like Dreamworks would have, director Gore Verbinski takes the approach of an actual western. The western stereotypes and unoriginal plot points found in “Rango” are used to further the story. They do make you laugh such as the shootout with Bad Bill but the character of Rango is supplying the humor, not the depiction of the shootout. Verbinski comes up with some great camera angles in the shootout scenes as well as throughout the movie. The filmmakers are telling a story with an entertaining main character and that is part of the reason why the film works. The other reason is the design of “Rango”. On the film “Treasure Planet”, the Disney filmmakers used a “70/30 law” meaning 70% of the film’s design would be traditional while 30% would be science fiction. “Rango” follows a similar rule: 70% of the film’s design is western while 30% is anthropomorphism and modern-day human society. The townspeople are more human-like or I should say more western in their design than we are used to seeing. Examples include the characters of Spoons and Balthazar.

The film has some fun story moments and a well-chosen, reputable cast. I like how the fourth wall was broken at the very start of the film by the mariachis but at the same time, we can tell that the film is going to be a genuine western in many ways. The character of Roadkill establishes the western feel that Rango has found himself in. I also like the use of a frame around Rango that is reprised throughout the film. It represents the theme of the film, which is that we create our own identity. The world sees only the inside of the frame but we can choose what goes in the frame. The events in the Gas Can Saloon appears to be taken right out of “Back to the Future: Part III” but because the characters are different, the scene feels original. I therefore like this reference. Another reason why I enjoy this scene is because we get to see Rango use his pre-established theater and improvisational skills convincingly. I can relate to him in this moment. I also like the “Jurassic Park” reference with Rango hiding in the port-a-potty only to have it fall apart around him. The movie has great action moments such as the chase with Balthazar and his robbers. That scene begins with Rango once again using his acting skills. The climax is fun and exciting as well thanks to the use of serious storytelling with stereotypical scenes. I like how the mariachis hint throughout the movie that Rango will die only at the end to reveal that he will die eventually. It creates an authentic feeling of concern for our main character, who is quite appealing thanks to Depp. Tom Hanks and Johnny Depp both have the ability to take any character they play and alter it just enough vocally that the costume does the rest of the work in creating enough originality. The film is full of great performances from wonderful performers such as Isla Fisher, Alfred Molina, Abigail Breslin, Bill Nighy and Ray Winstone. Ned Beatty is playing a similar character as he on “Toy Story 3”. They all sound perfectly western, which contrasts Depp’s character.

Hans Zimmer was the perfect man to score such a film. He is another reason why the film is more serious than satirical. In a time where motion capture and 3D are the fads, this film stands apart. It focuses on story, characters and design instead which makes it good. The filmmakers did use the traditional technique of rotoscoping in that the actors were filmed acting out the scenes and then animators used that footage as reference. For “Rango”, the filmmakers called it “emotion capture”. ILM did a great job with its first fully animated film and I knew it would win Best Animated Film at the Academy Awards after it was nominated. Verbinski made a western the same way he made a pirate movie back in 2003. It remained true to the essence of the original genre. Rango does have more satire but as mentioned, it is subtle as opposed to a Dreamworks film. The acting is also great.

3.5 Stars