'The Lone Ranger' Movie Review: Johnny Depp & Armie Hammer Film Shot Down [TRAILER]
The reviews are in for The Lone Ranger, starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer, and critics are not happy with the action flick.
"The Lone Ranger is deathly dull, which is quite a shame as it not only has a decent conceit for a Western, but also has an obvious appreciation for the history of the Western and films in general," wrote RopesofSilicon.com in its Monday review.
The website, which gave the movie a D minus rating, said that the film's tone was difficult to determine and the plot was typical.
Hammer, who plays the lead character John Reid, also didn't receive much praise for his role in the film. Variety in its June 30 review, "Having proved his acting chops in Billy: The Early Years and The Social Network, Hammer offers a more uneven performance here."
Depp wasn't a favorite either. The same publication wrote in regards to the 50-year-old actor, "Naturally, audiences will look to Depp to pick up the slack, though this time, the star's eccentricities seem more calculated - and ultimately less amusing - than before."
Perhaps, critics simply had high expectations for the film because it was directed by Gore Verbinski, who is also a part of the successful Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Verbinski's attempt to make another hit film was attacked as well as his work on The Lone Ranger with producer Jerry Bruckheimer. The two thought their collaboration would carry over into another success after working together on the Pirates films.
"Floated conceptually and commercially by another eccentric comic characterization by Johnny Depp, this attempt by Verbinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer to plant the flag for another Pirates of the Caribbean-scaled series tries to have it too many ways tonally, resulting in a work that wobbles and thrashes all over the place as it attempts to find the right groove," wrote The Hollywood Reporter in its June 30 review.
Still, the publication did mention that there were some comical moments in the film. However, while such entertainment is present, the report noted that it's not enough to reach the success of the Pirates films.
The movie, a revival of the TV show Lone Ranger that aired from 1949 to 1957, hits U.S. theaters on July 3.
