 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Rango
- Review Date: February 28, 2011
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Guns and deep thoughts make this best for older kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this animated film starring Johnny Depp is as dramatic as it is comedic, and it deals with several mature themes that may go over kids' head. The main character experiences an identity crisis and ponders life's big questions -- like "who am I?," "where do I belong?," and "why am I here?" (to name just a few of Rango's existential issues). There's also stronger language (both "damn" and "hell" are said several times, as well as insults like "trollop," "tart," and "floozy") and notably more violence than in many animated kids' movies -- violent/scary scenes range from gun showdowns and a gallows outfitted with nooses to a frightening killer hawk and a sadistic snake that threatens beloved characters. A few characters are killed (or nearly killed), shot at, or crushed, and there's a fair bit of smoking by supporting characters. But there are also positive messages about living up to your potential, defending those who are defenseless, and the importance of authority figures who do what's in their community's best interest instead of their own.
What's the story?
RANGO (voiced by Johnny Depp) is a lonely pet lizard with an active imagination; he fancies himself a swashbuckling hero and puts on "shows" with his companions -- a headless Barbie, a dead insect, and a wind-up plastic fish. But when his owner's car makes a harsh turn, Rango's terrarium falls out onto the highway, leaving him utterly alone in the Mojave Desert. After following the advice of a sage armadillo, Rango comes across a female lizard named Beans (Isla Fisher), who takes him to her Old West hometown of Dirt, where water is such a scarce commodity that it's kept in a bank. Rango spins yarn after yarn about being a legendary bandit killer and manages to fell a killer hawk that terrorizes the town, so Dirt's mayor (Ned Beatty) names him sheriff. But when Rango unintentionally allows the town's water supply to be stolen, he must either find it or admit that he's just a pretender.
Is it any good?
With Rango, director Gore Verbinksi has made a unique animated film that's equal parts "mature" drama, old-school Western, and comedic adventure. This is exactly the kind of movie that proves Pixar isn't the only studio capable of making an animated film that grownups without kids would be compelled to see. From the mariachi owls that act as the chorus and the pitch-perfect voice cast to the gorgeously detailed set -- where the tumbleweeds and dust and desert sun seem as real as in any John Ford film -- Rango has a sweeping scope that's thrilling to see.
But for everything Rango is, it's definitely not a "whole family" movie outing. There's an intimately personal focus on its main character's development that may be tough for most young kids to understand. Rango often wonders "who am I?," because underneath his charismatic persona lies a deeply lonely lizard who just wants to call someplace home. The violence feels very realistic, as does Rango's melancholy. Depp and Fisher act their parts wonderfully, and Beans is a particularly good role model for young girls -- she's tough, outspoken, and willing to stand up for justice. Families who want quick laughs, pratfalls, and adorable characters may not appreciate the movie's lingering establishing shots and existential lizard musings. But for those who want an animated homage to the Western with a heavy dose of deep thoughts and good humor, this is a must-see film.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the movie's message about becoming who you want to be. How does Rango change from a wannabe hero to the real thing? Would you consider him a role model?
There are some pretty heavy themes here. Do you think that makes it too grown-up for younger kids? Who do you think the movie's target audience is?
How does the violence in this movie compare to others you've seen? Does it have more or less impact? Why?
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Parent of 5 year old
February 26, 2011
AGE
Beautifull Effects but VERY VIOLENT
What a beautifully animated film. Older audience members will enjoy this film.
Unfortunately, we saw this with a very, very young crowd as the Special Screening Pass was given away to a young audience through the libraries in our area. For that reason, I'll provide my thoughts based on the age in the theater for this particular showing as the majority of the kids were approximately 4 to 10 years old (as this was the audience the library programs were geared - VERY young).
Although the effects of the creatures were outstanding - the film was extremely violent - meaning, impalement, hanging, drowning, kidnapping, burning, explosions, shooting LOTS and LOTS of shooting, guns being pointed in peoples faces, even CHILD characters holding guns and shooting guns.
There's an entire scene with a group of bad guys that resemble the characters from the Hills Have Eyes - it was soooo creepy. They held knives, axes, guns, every imaginable weapon. Tons of physical violence, punching in the face, slapping each in the face - women and children were slapped and/or punched throughout the film, talk of squeezing until eyeballs popped out of their heads!
There is also an extended scene in a bar with conversations about killing a family of brothers while drinking shots. All of which was mixed in with constant swearing and bad language.
For the older audience, the plot is somewhat hard to follow, the laughs that are typically geared towards the parents in the crowd were few and far between. However, the animation was some of the best I think I've ever scene down to the minute details.
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Teen, 13 years old
June 21, 2011
AGE
I wish I could rate it zero stars...
I cried.
I was not crying because I was sad.
No, I cried because of the stupidity of it! I would not recommend seeing it... or even looking at it... it was that bad! Is it possible for a movie to be THAT bad? I didn't think so but yes. We saw it with my cousin... it seems we see a lot of bad movies with her. There are creepy characters and everything is just overall creepy! If you loved it... who are you and where do you come from? No offense. FOUR STARS? The people really rated it FOUR stars? No- no no NO! If I could, I'd rate it one star, if only that was an option. But it wasn't... sadly. Anyway it made me want to throw up, bury myself in a hole and die. Don't waste your time...
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Teen, 13 years old
June 21, 2011
AGE
BAD MOVIE!!!
This movie should be rated PG-13!!!
This is just a terrible movie for any age. There are a lot of inappropriate jokes. There are also a lot of drugs, smoking, swearing, and kissing. I would not recommend seeing this movie, this movie is NOT for kids.
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Parent of 2, 4, 6, 9, and 11 year old
April 22, 2011
AGE
Waste of Money, waste of Time
Hated this movie. I took my 5 children to this movie and it was pure torture to get through. The language and content was extremely uncomfortable with my older children and the violence was too much for my younger ones. I thought this was a kids movie but in the end all I had were tears, confusion and a very frustrated mommy who wasted her money to see it. I should have walked out and I regret that I didn't. Could have taught my kids a good lesson on having enough courage to stand up and walk out on a bad and inappropriate movie. Do not waste your money or your time with this terrible film. Big disappointment.
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Parent of 11 year old
March 6, 2011
AGE
A negative for Native Americans!
I am a nurse living and working in a Native American community in Sitka, Alaska. I was sickened by the negative Native American stereotype and what was said about the character by another. The Crow/Native character was standing on a hill top when another character said "whats that big dumb Indian looking at" I felt like I was punched in the stomach. I felt bad for all the Native people in the theater with children. That line should never have been in the movie.
Shame on The producers,script writer and actors for not being more culturally sensitive!
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Parent of 7 year old
March 6, 2011
AGE
Good if you are realistic with your child, and they know life is not all we would like it to be
I usually just read these reviews, but the way some parents are reacting to this movie made me really upset. ITS A MOVIE! It does not have an underlying agenda to ruin our kids minds - that is obviously being done by the parents who feel that it is up to Hollywood, the teachers, and anyone else but the parents to teach kids right from wrong. I thought it was a different type of animated movie (I would like to see it again - to see what other amazing artwork I may see next time), but didn't find anything disturbing. My son who is seven knows what bad words are (and that they are inappropriate), has seen bra ads on tv (more harmful than an animated headless doll torso) and knows that death is part of life (yes he has attended family funerals). He and I were entertained for the 107 minutes that the movie lasted, then he was ready for something else...He didn't seem to be ruined for seeing it, we actually talked about the quote I liked best from the movie "No man can walk out of his own story" meaning you can tell lies to try to get people to like you (like Rango did) but if you are given the opportunity to make it right and do the right thing - do it - because it was what you were meant to do... (and another thing the word that seems to be in question was "thespians" the word lesbians was never said) I really think people are really looking too hard into this... Please take it for what it is - simply a PG (not G) rated movie (last I checked PG meant Parental Guidance).
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Kid, 9 years old
March 2, 2011
AGE
The WORST movie I have ever seen
It was awful. Every five seconds there was some terrible, disgusting, creepy or scarring image and most of the movie I felt like running out of the theater. They tried to make a strong female character but she didn't do anything "strong", and in the end she was kissing disgusting Rango (eew!) None of the jokes were funny. Some were even inappropriate, which was really bad, especially since kids as young as 4 or 5 were watching that movie, some jokes were about breasts, etc. There were naked Barbies, and a really stereotyped Indian character. What if a Native American or Indian child saw that? What are they supposed to think? The violence was intolerable. SO many things happened including lots of shooting and injuries, even death. The plot was flimsy and hard to follow, to top it off, and it was unclear if Rango was dreaming, sleeping, dead, going crazy, or if it was in real life. What WAS clear was that they were trying to project an "inspirational" message but instead showed me crude characters, creepy men, stereotyped characters, 'sexy' jokes, and awful humor. Do NOT see this movie, whether you are 1 or 41 or anywhere in between. Cannot say how bad it was.
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Adult
March 6, 2011
AGE
Wonderful movie for parents and kids 9+... The best family movie this year so far!
Wonderful movie... Funny and exciting, but also fairly heavy and serious. This is not a film for small children, dispite how cute Rango is, many of the other characters are scary and gruesome looking. Lots to talk about after though with older kids. Look for lots of references to other movies! (Starwars, Good Bad and Ulgy etc.)
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Parent of 10 and 16 year old
February 28, 2011
AGE
Agreed. This movie is VERY VIOLENT for a movie targeted to young children.
I went to a special screening with my two kids: a 16 year old boy and 10 year old girl. I was shocked at how violent this movie was, and I am one who usually scoffs at "cartoon violence". Yes, it's a cartoon, but this movie in particular has very realistic, very angry violence that has a different feel than Tom & Jerry or any Disney movie (really, they all have violent scenes). My 10 year old daughter was made uncomfortable by it, and just the night before we had watched Charlie's Angels. She is not sheltered from violence, by any means. Mazo997 is right. There is every kind of aggression and weapon used in this movie. Read Mazo's review for a more detailed description, but in ADDITION to all of that, there was even a joke about someone being hanged (accompanied by a visual).
It also bothered me that a couple of characters cross a very busy street by blindly running through it. One does get hit and bounced comically but painfully around many cars for a verrrry long time. This is a personal pet peeve of mine, and why I added "Not good role models." Some people might also be disturbed by the old west style of living (lots of drinking and yelling, everyone and their grandmother has a rifle, etc.) but I let that go since it is, basically, a Western.
I was surprised by the language used: "you son of a __" where the last word is essentially bleeped out, and lots of "h-ll" and "d*mn", all used appropriately, and, again, angrily. Also the language is very adult just in the way the characters speak - think True Grit. My daughter couldn't really keep up with the accents and the manner of speaking once Rango gets to Dirt.
Given all of that, I still have mixed feelings about the movie. My daughter did not like it at all. My son really liked it. I felt that it was trying too hard to be a kid's movie for adults. There have been some examples of balancing the two (The Muppets, Rocky & Bullwinkle, all Pixar movies), but this movie seemed to forget that young kids would be in the audience, so even the scenes that made only the adults laugh (like the Fear and Loathing reference) made me cringe and just hope I wasn't going to have to explain it later to my kids.
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Parent of 4 and 7 year old
March 5, 2011
AGE
Stay away with young kids!
I just sat through this with my 4 and 7 year old, having NOT checked this site first. What a mistake. While I might have enjoyed it alone, hearing a really scary character hiss "I'm going to slice your face off and use it to wipe my unmentionables" was not enjoyable. There was just waaaay too much killing, swearing and amusing but too sophisticated dialog for most kids. If the already frightening characters had been human vs animated, it would have easily been an R-rated movie for the violence alone. While I love Johnny Depp and thought he did a great job, unless you're ready for your kid to hear and use the line quoted at the beginning of this review, stay away.
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| Topics: | misfits and underdogs, wild animals |
| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | Gore Verbinski |
| Cast: | Abigail Breslin, Alfred Molina, Isla Fisher, Johnny Depp |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 107 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 4, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | July 15, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | rude humor, language, action and smoking |
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