'The Lone Ranger' Review: Johnny Depp & Armie Hammer Bring Comedy to the Wild West [TRAILER]
Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp give a fresh portrayal of The Lone Ranger and his sidekick Tonto in the latest film from Gore Verbinski.
The Lone Ranger tells the origin story of the iconic character and his Indian accomplice while rebranding the men as quirky, luck driven quarrelers who finally band together due to the misfortunes of fate instead of the well-known stoic stalwarts.
Hammer portrays John Reid, a district attorney returning home to bring structured court justice to a lawless land kept in check only by the work of his brother's (James Badge Dale) Texas Rangers. A swing of bad luck and the crippling of the Ranger force throws the gun-aversive John into cahoots with the slightly mentally confused, vengeance seeking Tonto (Depp).
Depp's humor is abundant, largely in slapstick form, despite his more subdued demeanor. Coated in paint, Depp's face may not crack a smile through the entire film but his interactions with Hammer are more than good for a laugh. Hammer, for his part, handily takes on the role of a man attempting to stick to his personal rules during his fight for justice but finds that, occasionally, good men must wear masks.
The Pirates of the Caribbean helmer transferred the comic talents of Depp and his own cinematic artistry from the seven seas to the Wild West. With a distinct lack of CGI, real pulse pounding stunts take center stage as they play out across the red hued expanse of the southwest. Action sequences abound and provide a nice contrast to some of the quieter, more intimate moments of introspection.
However, the film lasts a staggering two and a half hours. The story appears to come to an end several times but is picked back up by a new plot revelation. While the thread of the tale seems long and a tad convoluted, each new detail provides insight into the character's development, particularly for Tonto.
As an escape from the summer heat, you really can't go wrong with The Lone Ranger. Kids with be amused by the characters antics and latch onto the tale of good versus evil while adults can marvel at the stunt work and enjoy the subtle adult jokes that will fly well over a child's head.
