RANGO (B+)

Starring the voices of: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Ned Beatty and Timothy Olyphant


Directed by: Gore Verbinski (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 1, 2 and 3)

Rated: PG

Story: The story follows the comical, transformative journey of Rango, a sheltered chameleon living as an ordinary family pet, while facing a major identity crisis. After all, how high can you aim when your whole purpose in life is to blend in? When Rango accidentally winds up in the gritty, gun-slinging town of Dirt - a lawless outpost populated by the desert's most wily and whimsical creatures - the less-than-courageous lizard suddenly finds he stands out. Welcomed as the last hope the town has been waiting for, new Sheriff Rango is forced to play his new role to the hilt . . . until, in a blaze of action-packed situations and encounters with outrageous characters, Rango starts to become the hero he once only pretended to be. (Paramount Pictures)

Bottom Line: The visuals don’t colorfully pop like Pixar – but they’re every bit as impressive – and the story, paying homage to the Spaghetti Westerns of the 60’s, is downright fun. It might be a little intense for younger kids but this smart, tumbleweed-rollin’, critter-infested, boot-kicker makes for a very pleasant, early March surprise. Just like the Clint Eastwood cowboy movies that inspired it, RANGO truly made my day!