Parents' Guide to

Rango

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Guns and deep thoughts make this best for older kids.

Movie PG 2011 107 minutes
Rango Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 217 parent reviews

FinnRichey
FinnRichey Adult
May 20, 2021
age 8+

I tip my hat to you, one legend to another!

People are reacting way to harshly to this movie. I repeat, ITS A MOVIE! This movie has great animation ,good morals, and deep thought processes. Yes, it is a bit more mature than most animated movies, but it is still fine for 8 year olds or mature 6 year olds. This is fun for everyone with western lizards.
2 people found this helpful.
Andrew C.
Andrew C. Parent of 8-year-old
April 1, 2023
age 12+

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 217 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (217):
Kids say (216):

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.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • 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?

Movie Details

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