RANGO - Movie Review (9/10)
I had heard about Rango a few times, mainly on YouTube, as an underrated masterpiece. The movie’s style looked very enticing for me, so I immediately watched it when I rediscovered it recently on Netflix. And I have to admit, Rango is undeniably an animation classic that outshines most competition today in its use of the medium and its take on the classic western. I hold animation to a high regard – the creative freedom that comes with taking up the pen is near endless, and you can do so much that is simply impossible in live action. So, it becomes really disheartening when most studios operate on terribly similar cutesy art styles that appeal to the masses without considering how it blends in with their story (most being restricted to kid friendly affairs). Here, Rango’s dirty and dry colour palate nearly drains the audience, helping immerse us in the character’s search for water and allow to delve into its mature (relative) themes. Its character designs are brilliant, blending common western tropes with the animals for a fun cast that bounce around the screen, full of energy. Rather than render them completely naturally, Rango breaks and molds its animals until a single look at them tells you all you need to know about their personality. It overflows in visual story telling. The animation itself is also amazing, kinetic and downright gorgeous at many points. The story holds its own as well. Rango’s search for his identity, first as a nomad, to a gunslinger, to a hero, a nobody, and then finally to Rango is some of the most beautiful I have seen. He always overplayed each part, never managing to feel right, until the very end when he embodies to be not the person he wants, but the one his friends need. Who cares if he was embarrassed? He must step up and help the ones who depend on him, which serves a reminder to love and respect the ones around you. The humor is also impeccable and natural, a joke never felt forced and had me laughing out loud at many points. And the action – oh the action! – was some of the most creative and thrilling I have witnessed in a while. The world building, subtle and small, slowly anchors us for the story that’s to come, and I really resonated with it shedding light on the exploitation of the people by greedy assholes who have managed to hold power. Overall, Rango is a movie filled with beautiful visuals, superb voice acting, awesome character designs, and a touch of capitalism critique to wrap it all together. An absolute joy ride that manages to tug the heart strings at the end.
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