Just to preface this, I had no intention or desire to see this film but my movie buddy Jeanne was insistent. She has some leopard geckos and a thing for animals, although the characters being animals did little for the plot and actually worked against it at times. A chameleon cannot survive in the desert or a desert-style aquarium - once again Hollywood sacrifices doing it right for doing it easily.
So in case you don't get it when the animals continue to say, "It's a metaphor" it's a metaphor. It's another adult movie disguised as a child film. Think what Happy Feet, or Ice Age 2 did for global warming...nothing. You cannot reach an audience this way, I promise you! The people that get it, get it already. The people that don't will not see through your veiled metaphor! Give up the shtick, it's annoying and not at all entertaining. Also, Rango's message was all over the place. They were very blunt about big business being the new bad guy, replacing the old western style bandit, but a little vague on their stance on Christianity. They keep the people weak and powerless by controlling the water (i. e. money) and having them worship the crank on the faucet (the cross) but later when the animals are out working for the system retrieving the water that was stolen they hold hands and have a prayer circle - which to me read as though religion was a good thing, a rock for people during times of hardship (which sure, totally cool with that but then why mock it in the beginning?) Maybe it's religion is good if it's used appropriately, bad if business uses it to manipulate people?
Then there is Vegas - is Vegas as in big business gambles with our money? As in Vegas is Soddam and Gamorrah? As in Vegas has destroyed the environment? You lost me there movie people.
The best part was the dream sequences which were a clever nod to Depp's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as well as Pirates of the Caribbean.
If you like animals it's all over the place and most of the animals are unrecognizable, if you are a kid it's too scary, and if you are an adult like me it's just long, boring, and slaps you in the face with "hidden messages".
