Title: RANGO (2011)
We live in a time where the Animation market has been over-run by numerous offerings by Dreamworks and Disney/Pixar, that smaller houses seem to be trying in vain to steal a little bit of coin. For every Monsters vs. Aliens or Toy Story, there are 5 Alvin & The Chipmunks and Gnomeo & Juliets. Then there was "Rango". If ever there was a film destined to be something, it was this film. Directed by Gore Verbinski of the Pirates Trilogy, as well the American Ring remake and The Weather Man. Voiced by a veritable who's who of character actors, while being headlined by the always bankable Johnny Depp. Photography consulting by 9 time Oscar nominee Roger Deakins. More over seminal powerhouse, and effects giants Industrial Light & Magics first full leap into the world of animated films. It should have been a game changer, and it nearly was. Do not misunderstand me, Rango, is truly a marvel to behold. It's also a movie for movie people, though truth be told, therein lays it's undoing. For every image, every vista, or nuanced reaction within the film, outside of it's vision, there is a lack of originality. The basic plot of the film, underneath it all, can be described as "A Western Chinatown, without the sexual under/overtones". It's not so much a deterrent, as it is merely a weakness. Then again there is a saying that one shouldn't swing for greatness straight out of the gate, one must be worthy of attaining it. If this film was merely a warm up for ILM, sign me up for the moment it says it's swinging for the fences.
Negatives aside Rango is still rather special in it's own light. A great deal of though, heart, and work went into the film, and it drips from every shot. Rango is one of those films you see, that you instantly want to own the moment it comes out on blu-ray. There is no doubt it will become the standard Demo Disc, that Target, Wal-Mart and Best Buy will have playing consistently on all their top of the line televisions for months. The greatest thing about that is, they will not be trying to swindle you into buying a 3D tv for it either, for you see, Rango was made in glorious, mouth-watering, non-dimmed 2D. Just mentioning the images from the film, I can instantly see them vividly in my mind. It's often a testament to film when it stays with you, for better or worse.
Johnny Depp makes strides again in earning his mark as "the hardest working actor in Hollywood." Sure in recent years many of his films have fallen more so into the Mainstream film league, but he still works tirelessly, regardless of the project of material. Outside of the voice itself, one can easily imagine Depp in the vary role, further pushed home by the fact that before the animation was begun, all the actors were filled acting out on a green screen as a reference point. The other big thing that the film has going for it, is that it truthfully is a real unabashed Western. No question about it at all. Kids will love the imagery, parents will find it better than ok, while Western fans will be consistently smiling and laughing. There is a great reveal to Timothy Olyphant's character, which has probably been ruined by the internet, that I shall not repeat here, that when I saw it, a large smile swept across my face. It's a decidedly "by-the-number" affair, though there aren't lots of grey areas in the realm of PG animated films. Specially if the film is supposed to be geared for the most part to children. Which in and of itself is intriguing, because I would easily call this "the most adult Nickelodeon" film ever perceived. It works as an adventure, a comedy, flairs of dramatic, leans on melodramatic, all the while having a colorful cast of characters and a few flatulence jokes, for good measure. In the end, when leaving the theater I wondered what ILM's plans for the future were. Luckily, Rango had the answer. "Now?............We Ride!"
**** out of *****
Showing posts with label Fish out of Water. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fish out of Water. Show all posts
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
COMEDY WEDNESDAY: CABIN BOY (1994)
Title: CABIN BOY (1994)
First off, yes this is the immortal classic that features David Lettermans's one scene, with a line referring to the possible offer of the the purchase of a monkey. Beyond that lays a strange absurdest fantasy, the likes of which we rarely see nowadays. It's interesting to look at the movie landscape and how much it has changed since the 90's. The types of films that make it to the theaters vs. the films that land straight to video. How and if of a movie like "Cabin Boy" getting made now, is hard to fathom. The story behind it, is even murkier. "The Lost Tim Burton film" is certainly one avenue, as it was originally to be a directing vehicle for him, though all that is left if a production credit. Yet his fingerprints, a la "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure", are all over this project. It was also seen as a star making picture for Chris Elliott, coming off a short SNL stint and his under-appreciated sitcom "Get A Life'.
"Cabin Boy" is first and foremost a stupid picture. It knows this and revels in it at every turn. Keeping this in mind, coupled with the secondary talent it carries with it, it should be a cult classic, being shown all the time on late night cable, college dorms, and midnight movie revivals. There's a lot to like and be confused by herein. I always thought the film was some weird period piece, taking place when sailors ruled the seas, under the fearful watchful eye of the Queens and Kings of old. Not so much. The film opens in modern times with Elliott as the titular Cabin Boy attending a finishing school, producing "Fancy Lads". After taking a wrong turn to board his fathers cruise ship, he enters a seaport much out of place and time. He stumbled upon a rickety ship called "The Filthy Whore" which is being watched over by a rather youngish Andy Richter. What follows is a classic fish out of water tale, but done with an absurdist touch that is thick with satire and farce. The great thing is that the film and everyone involved know the film is a joke. There is no possible way to look at it otherwise. The ship's crew does all they can to break the spirits of Elliott, but end up falling short. At 80 minutes, the pacing is brilliant, and fast, if a scene doesn't work, no worries, it will be moving on as soon as possible. Knowing what I did going into the film, it's obvious of Tim Burton's involvement. From the humor, to the various set pieces, it feels like a natural fit. "Nightmare Before Christmas" and "James and the Giant Peach" are his sandwiched producing credits surrounding the film, with "Ed Wood" being the film he directed the same year. Stupidity in comedy is always a fine line to walk, you can play it for heart or sadness, but the best route is humor. If you don't allow the audience to question the stupidity, they can focus more so on the inherent humor. This works even better if your lead is an insufferable stuff-shirt, who doesn't see the error of his ways. An audience can get behind that, for they don't like them based on instinct. Chris Elliott has often gotten a lot of flack for the kinds of characters he plays, as well as his homeliness. What's never made sense to me, is that while Elliott has to scrape by, Rob Schneider is capable of having film after film thrust upon the masses, via theatrical release. Guess it is the old adage of "it's not what you know, it's who you know." Cabin Boy is often met with groans, which is unfounded, due to the fact that it is actually a really funny movie. Nothing about it is grand, pretentious, over-wrought, watered down. It wants to make you laugh, turn your head to the side, while thinking "what?". but with a grin on your face/ Fun it is, and unabashedly so.
The 90's were an easier time for films. A time where virtually any film could be made, shown in theaters for profit. Experimentation was the key. Movies were cheaper to make, show, profit off of. With the booming home video market, producers could easily rest hoping to make their money back that way. I often miss those days. There was only a handful of summer blockbuster fare, and comedies, both big and small, had a chance to find some sort of fans. "Cabin Boy" will be a film I return to often, when I just want to laugh, without thinking much at all. A fine afternoon of 90's post-SNL work would be "Tommy Boy", "Dirty Work", "PCU" and "Cabin Boy".
*** out of *****
First off, yes this is the immortal classic that features David Lettermans's one scene, with a line referring to the possible offer of the the purchase of a monkey. Beyond that lays a strange absurdest fantasy, the likes of which we rarely see nowadays. It's interesting to look at the movie landscape and how much it has changed since the 90's. The types of films that make it to the theaters vs. the films that land straight to video. How and if of a movie like "Cabin Boy" getting made now, is hard to fathom. The story behind it, is even murkier. "The Lost Tim Burton film" is certainly one avenue, as it was originally to be a directing vehicle for him, though all that is left if a production credit. Yet his fingerprints, a la "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure", are all over this project. It was also seen as a star making picture for Chris Elliott, coming off a short SNL stint and his under-appreciated sitcom "Get A Life'.
"Cabin Boy" is first and foremost a stupid picture. It knows this and revels in it at every turn. Keeping this in mind, coupled with the secondary talent it carries with it, it should be a cult classic, being shown all the time on late night cable, college dorms, and midnight movie revivals. There's a lot to like and be confused by herein. I always thought the film was some weird period piece, taking place when sailors ruled the seas, under the fearful watchful eye of the Queens and Kings of old. Not so much. The film opens in modern times with Elliott as the titular Cabin Boy attending a finishing school, producing "Fancy Lads". After taking a wrong turn to board his fathers cruise ship, he enters a seaport much out of place and time. He stumbled upon a rickety ship called "The Filthy Whore" which is being watched over by a rather youngish Andy Richter. What follows is a classic fish out of water tale, but done with an absurdist touch that is thick with satire and farce. The great thing is that the film and everyone involved know the film is a joke. There is no possible way to look at it otherwise. The ship's crew does all they can to break the spirits of Elliott, but end up falling short. At 80 minutes, the pacing is brilliant, and fast, if a scene doesn't work, no worries, it will be moving on as soon as possible. Knowing what I did going into the film, it's obvious of Tim Burton's involvement. From the humor, to the various set pieces, it feels like a natural fit. "Nightmare Before Christmas" and "James and the Giant Peach" are his sandwiched producing credits surrounding the film, with "Ed Wood" being the film he directed the same year. Stupidity in comedy is always a fine line to walk, you can play it for heart or sadness, but the best route is humor. If you don't allow the audience to question the stupidity, they can focus more so on the inherent humor. This works even better if your lead is an insufferable stuff-shirt, who doesn't see the error of his ways. An audience can get behind that, for they don't like them based on instinct. Chris Elliott has often gotten a lot of flack for the kinds of characters he plays, as well as his homeliness. What's never made sense to me, is that while Elliott has to scrape by, Rob Schneider is capable of having film after film thrust upon the masses, via theatrical release. Guess it is the old adage of "it's not what you know, it's who you know." Cabin Boy is often met with groans, which is unfounded, due to the fact that it is actually a really funny movie. Nothing about it is grand, pretentious, over-wrought, watered down. It wants to make you laugh, turn your head to the side, while thinking "what?". but with a grin on your face/ Fun it is, and unabashedly so.
The 90's were an easier time for films. A time where virtually any film could be made, shown in theaters for profit. Experimentation was the key. Movies were cheaper to make, show, profit off of. With the booming home video market, producers could easily rest hoping to make their money back that way. I often miss those days. There was only a handful of summer blockbuster fare, and comedies, both big and small, had a chance to find some sort of fans. "Cabin Boy" will be a film I return to often, when I just want to laugh, without thinking much at all. A fine afternoon of 90's post-SNL work would be "Tommy Boy", "Dirty Work", "PCU" and "Cabin Boy".
*** out of *****
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