Rango

When an ordinary pet chameleon (voiced by Johnny Depp) gets stranded in the Mojave Desert, he takes refuge in the drought-plagued Old West town of Dirt that’s populated by various moles, mice and other varmints. Adopting the persona of Rango, the chameleon gets named sheriff and is saddled with cleaning up the town’s problems while a chorus of mariachi owls sing of his eventual demise. Rango is a sly parody of Western conventions and loosely re–tells the story of Chinatown. Keen observers will recognize Hunter S. Thompson, John Huston, and a posse of clever inside jokes.

ClearPlay In Action!

Rango is a rarity, an animated feature aimed more toward parents than children. Not that children won’t laugh, especially after ClearPlay cleans up 30 or so instances of profanity and some lewd and scatological references. The humor may be better appreciated by older viewers, and there are some scary elements that could be too intense for young’uns, but Rango is appropriate for most audiences after being ClearPlayed.

Will Rango show how the West was won, or is it only fit for a one–horse town?…

Rango was directed by Gore Verbinski (The Ring, Pirates of the Caribbean), and he brings a Chuck Jonesian approach to his keen storytelling. Unusually strong vocal talents, led by Depp, Bill Nighy, Ned Beatty and Abigail Breslin add to the fun, making Rango a very funny Western romp.

Marty Nabhan— ClearPlay Tenderfoot

Rated PG for rude humor, language, action and smoking; 107 min|111 min (extended); Directed By Gore Verbinski