Rango

Rango is a giant animated love letter to westerns while putting a fun and creative spin on it. Gore Verbinski creates a crazy world with these animals that is funny for both kids and adults while holding on that spirit of adventure that seems to be missing from movies today especially kids' films.

The animation here is beyond fantastic. The hard work is clearly showcased in every frame of the movie. The texture of the skin in the animals, the buildings, the sand, plants, water, and even the sky look beautiful and even realistic in some aspects. The trippy imagery also added to the visual style.

The story isn't that different as it is the fish out of water story we've come to see in these films. However, it is done with flair along with some zany characters (mostly Rango and his mariachi band) that makes this a much more satisfying and meorable experience. The character of Rango is a lot of fun to watch in this movie. Smart, naive, and kinda cocky. The side characters were also very funny particularly the mole family. There were plenty of creative chase scenes with the standout being the Rango vs Mole Bat Army scene. There's also a great little "cameo" that is probably one of the best cameos I've seen in a movie in a while.

Plot (8/10): It's nothing entirely new, but it has enough energy and imagination to make it worth watching.

Acting (9/10): Johnny Depp does a great job as Rango. The look and his voice blend perfectly.

Comedy (9/10): I was surprised at how adult some of the humor was. Made me laugh hard in some spots.

Direction (9/10): I liked the quirkiness and trippy mood it took. It made every scene different and fun to watch both in terms of comedy and visuals.

Overall, it is a fantastic kids movie while also a great love letter to westerns. A treat for both adults and kids.