A LONELY chameleon (voiced by Johnny Depp) is stranded in the Mojave Desert, where he meets a desert iguana called Beans (Isla Fisher) in Gore Verbinski’s animated romp.
She takes him to the town of Dirt, which is on the brink of collapse because the water supply is running low. There, the chameleon re-christens himself Rango and pretends to be a famous gunslinger. The townsfolk appear to have found themselves a hero and Rango becomes the sheriff protecting the locals from predators including Rattlesnake Jake.
A mouse called Priscilla believes that Rango will find water and save the community from extinction, so the chameleon sets out to discover why the water supply has dried up. Rango is a feast for the eyes and animation is immaculate, right down to tiny details such as the way the characters’ fur moves in the desert wind or the glint of tears in their eyes.
However, families beware: this film doesn't cater for very young viewers. There's no slapstick, almost no cuddly critters, and the tone is rather dark.
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The Lincoln Lawyer (15)
MICK HALLER (Matthew McConaughey) conducts legal business from the back of a Lincoln Continental representing the dregs of society. He hits the jackpot when he becomes counsel for playboy Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillippe), who is accused of assault and attempted murder. The Lincoln Lawyer is a solid courtroom thriller that comfortably holds attention for two hours as Haller realises he will need more than his usual wheeler-dealer tricks to ensure justice is served. McConaughey has the right amount of oily charm in the lead role while Phillippe is a snug fit for a man, used to getting his own way.
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Justin Bieber: Never Say Never (U)
IN THE space of two years, 16-year-old Justin Bieber has become pop music’s cutest young thing, inspiring the kind of ear drum- perforating hysteria that greeted The Beatles and Take That. Caught in the eye of a storm, the teenage singer-songwriter welcomes fans into his crazy world in this life-affirming behind-the-scenes documentary, culminating in his first concert at the iconic Madison Square Gardens, in New York. If you believe Jon Chu’s film, the singer is well-protected from the media glare by a team of people which resembles one big, happy family. The boy’s father appears briefly but the film glosses over the breakdown of the relationship with Justin’s mother, Pattie Mallette, who has raised him single-handedly since she was 18.
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