The reviews lean firmly positive: sixteen of the eighteen in are favourable and none is hostile. Almost every critic starts with the animation, described as photoreal to the point of surreal, with sun-bleached landscapes and creature designs that owe more to Looney Tunes than to Pixar. Verbinski’s direction and the script’s dense run of Western and cult film references draw steady praise, as does the voice cast, with Depp’s identity-seeking chameleon singled out more than once. Several note the film plays better to adults than to children.
The reservations are about story rather than surface. The two mixed notices, from Screen Daily and Time Out, find the storytelling weak and the film too pleased with its own cleverness. Others mention a slow opening, a third act that runs long, or an uneasy balance between kid-friendly action and adult jokes; The Playlist thinks it lacks an emotional heart. The spread is narrow, and nobody questions the craft.
L
Los Angeles Times
4 March 2011 · Betsy Sharkey
90*
The review calls it a groundbreaking, fun mash-up of Old West and newfangled animation that rewrites the playbook with eye-popping critters and a charming hero’s tale; praises Verbinski’s originality and the ensemble cast.
The review hails Rango as a thrillingly goofy and unabashedly strange Western odyssey that introduces a new animation powerhouse, commending its manic sensory overload, sharp script, superb voice cast, and loose, acid-trip animation style.
The critic calls Rango a madly clever animated sagebrush saga with style and wit to burn, praising its hyper-realistic visuals bordering on the surreal, witty script full of film references, and inventive Western tropes reconfigured for animation.
The critic finds the film gratifyingly fresh and eccentric despite its animated Western profile, praising its odd, anarchic tale and inventive animation that stands out from typical fare.
The critic praises the film's inventive animation, textured visuals, and knowing homages to Westerns and cult movies, noting it appeals more to adults than children and has potential as a lasting cult classic despite its peculiar tone.
The film is a brave family animation that mixes trippy mysticism and existential reflection with western spoofery. It features expressive characters and beautiful sun-bleached landscapes in a style like Looney Tunes on mescalin.
The critic hails the astonishingly adult-skewing animated debut as a comedic riff on the Wild West with photoreal visuals and unique narrative sensibility; praises the ensemble voices and design but notes it falters in balancing kid-friendly action with adult humor.
The critic finds Rango a thematically relevant western/animated mosaic that turns classic iconography into a fresh genre ecosystem with striking surreal imagery and subtext, while noting it fails to fully merge its chaotic parts and includes some dumbed-down elements.
The critic praises the quirky animation, strong voice performances and witty allusions to classic films, noting it should appeal to adults as well as children. They complain that weak storytelling and lack of dramatic momentum ultimately limit its appeal.
The critic praises the witty dialogue, dizzying animation and stunningly choreographed action, along with the film's astounding detail and in-jokes. They complain that it feels too pleased with itself, with laboured ideas and references that risk alienating the audience.
The critic calls Rango one of the best blockbuster films in years for its ambitious storytelling, visual detail, and clever film references. Minor caveats include pacing that may not suit young viewers or those who dislike westerns.
The critic praises the film's blend of slapstick, smart references, gorgeous visuals, and strong voice work, calling it a delightful and rare animated success outside Pixar. Minor complaints about the third act feeling slightly drawn out are outweighed by the overall inventive world and performances.
The critic lauds the film's visual richness, surrealism, tactile animation and bold Western genre play, calling it the weirdest and most gorgeously realised animated film in recent memory. It is cerebral and visually ravishing but lacks deep emotional heart.
The review describes Rango as a quirky, wildly entertaining animated Western with laser-like visual detail and an adventurous plot, deeming it the most satisfying non-Pixar animated movie in some time. It notes a slow initial setup but praises the strong pacing and dynamism once in the main setting.
The review highlights Verbinski's assured direction, stunning animation, witty adult humour and strong voice cast in this anthropomorphic Western parody. It notes some overabundance of characters and plotting but ultimately calls it a charming, lovingly crafted original.
The critic praises the film's near photo-realistic animation, dry Western humour and environmental themes while noting it may be too mature and slow-paced for young children. It is recommended as an energetic, original animated Western that stands out from formulaic fare.
The review celebrates the film's quirky, movie-loving sensibility, inventive 2D-style animation and re-teaming of Verbinski and Depp as a refreshing, endearingly odd animated Western. It is positioned as a smart, weird treat for fans of cinema.
The review highlights how Depp disappears into the role of the identity-seeking chameleon and notes the film's loving tribute to classic Westerns with strong visuals aided by Roger Deakins. It commends the gritty tone and appeal to both adults and children despite not matching Pixar in laughs-per-minute.
Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate
