Gore Verbinski, best known for directing the Pirates of The Caribbean saga, has dazzled audiences with his take on the animated movie, Rango. The mock Western film follows an unintentionally abandoned aspiring actor chameleon named Rango, voiced by Johnny Depp, in the Mojave Desert. As he wanders through the barren land, Rango comes across the desert’s greatest dilemma: water shortage. 

    Rango enters the town of Dirt, immediately causing trouble.  Taking on the role of a rough and tough outlaw, he becomes the town’s hero after accidently killing the hawk that takes the citizens away as a quick lunch.  Only spurring more drama, as Rattlesnake Jake (Bill Nighy) can come to wreak havoc on Dirt now that his No. 1 fear is dead.  

   Water is a coveted jewel in the barren landscape, and running out quickly. The Mayor of Dirt (Ned Beatty) is holding out on the town, scheming to use the drought as a way to expand the small Western town into a city resembling Las Vegas. It’s up to Rango and his lizardly love interest Beans (Isla Fischer) to find water and save Dirt.

  The movie, unlike most of Nickelodeon’s animated films, was shot in stunning 2-D. Though Rango sets itself apart for not jumping off the screen like the ever popular 3-D movies currently in theaters, the visual elements were far superior to those films. 

    The CGI work transformed cartoon animations to be as close to realistic as possible. The intense focus on detail, like Rango’s tough lizard skin, Bean’s bouncy brunette curls and the Mayor’s old toothy grin, even makes audience’s wonder if this was a drawing or actual animals trained to perform. 

    The humor appeals to children and adults, while still maintaining a PG rating. Quirky remarks in Spanish and elaborate lies spun by Rango kept viewers chortling at the screen. Jabs at classic Westerns appear throughout the movie; the Spirit of The West (Timothy Olyphant) mirrors the original desert eagle, Clint Eastwood. Rango definitely earned the four stars Roger Ebert awarded for its technical merit, unique storyline and witty dialogue.