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Title:  Rango

Actors/Director/Anything Worth Mentioning Right Away:  Director Gore Verbinski reunites with Johnny Depp in an animated tale of comedy, adventure and water.

Introduction:  I first got this movie from the library and watched it, then shortly thereafter bought it because it is that good.

Location:  It takes place in the desert, but there wasn’t really money needed for location because it’s animated.

Plot:  A chameleon named Rango falls out of the back of his family’s car as they swerve to avoid an accident.   It’s kind of like Madagascar because this leaves the domesticated pet out in the wild of his natural habitat.  In any event, he makes his way to a town called Dirt, which is an all right town it just doesn’t know it yet (like Radiator Springs).   Through a series of events, Rango becomes the sheriff and must solve the problem of why the town has lost all of its water.

Acting:  Though animated, all of the actors involved provide great voices.

Production:  This was in theaters, sure, but visually it does look awesome.

Sex/Nudity:  No, because this is a kids movie after all.   Well… Let me rephrase that.   It is a kid’s movie of sorts.   In one scene, while sitting around the campfire, one character says he once found a spine in his fecal matter.   In the same scene, Rango- when explaining how he and a snake can be brothers- says his mother had a very active social life.   There are moments in here where, as an adult, you’re going to laugh out loud, but your kids might say, “Mommy, what does that mean?” depending upon how old/smart they are.  Also, somewhat early on in this movie, Rango inadvertently kills a hawk, which basically has a water tower fall down and crush its head.   While it isn’t exactly graphic, it is something that you might not want your kids to see if only because you have to explain the concept of death to them.

Special Effects:  This is animated in a CGI way, but I must admit it still visually stunning, also, big props for the Fear and Loathing scene early on in the movie.

Overall Verdict:  While this movie may not be age appropriate for everyone, as an adult male I cannot stop watching this movie.  I’m on my second time now and I keep picking up new things every time I see it.  Like so many movies before it, Rango is a movie that is primarily geared toward kids, but ultimately has pieces of humor and interest for adults as well.   I think Pixar really started the tradition of making movies where parents could take their children and the parents themselves would enjoy the movies.  But even something like Wall-E or Up (Both of which I absolutely love) are still at their core about 80% for kids and 20% for the adults.   Rango seems to be slightly more for adults than for children.   In the way that you’ll watch something like Toy Story and laugh here and there, I think Rango is the opposite for the kids.   Yes, parents will be laughing more than kids.   But really, this is just a good hearted western and thus far my favorite movie of 2011.  I liked this movie so much, in fact, that I bought a ten inch plush of Rango on eBay for $15 (not available in stores)  Even though I am an adult, I feel like a child watching this movie—never tiring of it and even though I know what’s going to happen it doesn’t make it any less funny or entertaining.