Rango

Voiced by: Johnny Depp, Isla Fisher, Ned Beatty, Bill Nighy, Ray Winstone

Director: Gore Verbinski

Rating: 7/10

Rango (Depp) is an ordinary fun-loving chameleon looking to find his place in the world.

Prone to soul-searching as he seeks adventure, his life takes an unexpected turn when a car accident leaves him dazed and somewhat confused by the side of a road in the middle of the desert.

After taking advice from a mysterious character he meets there, he sets out into the middle of nowhere to try and find the town of Dirt - and water.

Dirt turns out to be a lawless outpost in the Wild West in desperate need of a new sheriff. Can you see where this is going..?

While it can sometimes seem that there's an endless stream of animated flicks all looking for a slice of the lucrative 'family' market, Rango is, it has to be said, a little different. On the face of it, it is a kids' film. However coming from the man who turned Pirates of the Caribbean into one of the most successful franchises in modern times (takings $1billion and counting), it's perhaps not surprising to discover that it has its twists and turns and a few scary bits along the way.

The baddies have familiar British accents (cue Bill Nighy as the terrifying Rattlesnake Jake and Ray Winstone as the thuggish Bad Bill). If the voice of the corrupt mayor (a wheelchair-bound turtle) sounds familiar, that's because it belongs to Ned Beatty, reprising the slightly creepy role he perfected as Lotso in Toy Story 3 (yes, I know: I watch too many children's movies.)

Depp, always a handy comic turn, is quick on the draw with his witty quips and was presumably brought aboard by the director he has helped make a very rich man in the Pirates series. The animation is good and musical interludes entertaining.

Movie buffs can lap up all the spaghetti western references of a film which is part pastiche, part parody. There's also a tip off the hat to the great Italian composer Ennio Morricone whose soundtrack work is flagrantly copied here.

Aimed perhaps more towards an older child/adult audience, Rango nevertheless comes out all guns blazing to entertain and delight.

* Rango is being screened at Vue Cinemas in Inverness. To find out times and listings of other films showing, see www.myvue.com

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.