From Wannabe to Hero

A talking chameleon outcast, a vicious snake threatening a vulnerable town in need of water, and mayor tortoise who is doing nothing to help. Not your usual western movie. “Rango”, a Nickelodeon Classic from 2011, is the story of a talking chameleon, who finds himself in a town with the need of a sheriff. Sound familiar? A critical and commercial hit, with its well thought out characters and subplots. Getting great reviews from the New York Times, IMDB, and Rotten Tomatoes, this movie hit the top, receiving on average four stars for its colorful animation, laughs, perplex characters, and adventurous theme. With nothing to even closely compare to, Rango’s minor characters, the cute but mature, Priscilla, and the suspicious and unaware, Doc, make this movie clear, interesting, and add a little flair and twist. To me, this movie was very intriguing, and I agree, this movie deserves a 4 star rating, but I do feel this movie is for a much younger age, between the ages 8-9.

As the story is told, a pet chameleon finds himself in the middle of the Mojave Desert without a drop of water in sight; he is lost and has no clue of what to do. When he stumbles across an armadillo named Roadkill, he is advised to find the Spirit of the West, and points out the chameleons’ only chance of survival, a town in the middle of the desert, called Dirt. There, Roadkill claims, is the only chance for finding water. As his perilous journey to Dirt begins, he meets one of the townspeople, Beans, a female desert iguana who is in search of her missing father’s ranch. He enters the town, to only stumble across it bone dry and in a major crisis. It’s as if all the water has dried up. Just like a play, he takes the main part, the gun slinging hero, of which he names Rango. The shadowed figure the tortoise, of which is the mayor makes Rango the town sheriff. Rango promises protection and water, but can he keep these huge promises?

In the beginning of the story “Rango” finds he is unhappy and alone. But as the story moves on, and he stumbles across a small town, everything changes. Along with a new attitude, a new look, and a new name, Rango talks himself up, and becomes the big shot. Literally, “All seven of them!” But of course, from the beginning we knew this was all an act, but some people, most of the townspeople couldn’t see past the bluff. After many attempts to be sheriff he was sought to be, all had failed. When Mayor, call’s in Rattlesnake Jake, the truth is put out in center stage. As “Rango” leaves with his hat and head down, a new journey begins. A new start. As he travels the desert he finds and listens to the words of wisdom given by the Spirit of The West. This is where he finds out that “Rango” was who he was the whole time. With this finding, Rango returns to the town as a new man, he comes with new found courage, confidence, and the will to do what’s right. Rango confronts the mayor and Rattlesnake Jake, wins the dual, and returns the water, to the small town of Dirt. Rango gets the girl! The townspeople celebrate their new found water. Rango changes in many ways, he came along way. Now he can get as many glasses of water he wants.