The Lone Ranger exceeded my expectations. That is not saying much given my low expectations. In fact, I don’t think there has been a Disney branded film that I have had this little desire to see since 2004’s Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. The team that brought us The Lone Ranger also brought us the first three films of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. While I enjoyed the first film, I felt the second and third film were long and drawn-out. So when they said they were going to work the magic they did on the pirate genre I was less then enthused. I was expecting a long miserable cure for insomnia.
I will start with the good part. This is an origin story, and once Armie Hammer truly becomes The Lone Ranger it is a fun romp with fun and excitement. The climax is a blast and caused my theatre to erupt in applause. The problem is that the origin is sloppy and unfocused.
I generally love origin stories. They are a great way to see character development, as the star transitions from a likeable but average individual into something special. Look at Spider-Man or Captain America as an example of how I feel an origin story should be. Spend enough time with the character so you get to know them before they transform into a hero.
In many ways, the story feels rushed. It is not that this is a short film as the running time is close to 2 hours and 29 minutes. I think the core of the issue is that the Lone Ranger is not the star of the film. Johnny Depp as Tonto gets top billing and a lot of the attention. Of course, Johnny is a bigger star but the film is not entitled Tonto. Much has been made how Tonto is more than a sidekick in this film as a way to get Johnny Depp’s fans to turn out to the multi-million dollar blockbuster. Unfortunately, that is not just hype. Tonto is a star. I expected a Mr. Miyagi type mentor but what I got was an equal partner.
I am not against Tonto’s role in principal. And there is no doubt that Mr. Depp is an amazing character actor. But the problem is that it takes screen time away from developing the John Reid character. Perhaps, Tonto’s backstory should have been saved for a sequel creating additional mystery around his character’s odd portrayal.
Another thing I found interesting about the film was that it is the most adult Disney branded film I have ever seen. All sort of bodily functions are displayed including pee, poop, and puke. The violence goes beyond anything seen in the Pirates movies and even is more graphic than most Marvel films. Prostitution and cannibalism are also represented in this film. While I am no prude, I felt this realism did not mesh with what I expected from The Lone Ranger. I expected a light-hearted cartoonish western that was a lot of fun.
The movie does get fun. Once John Reid truly becomes The Lone Ranger, the film plays out in a very fun way. It is just a shame that the film meanders and gets misdirected on its way to this amazing climax. The plot may be predictable, but it is still a lot of fun watching it play out during the second half of the film. There is something about watching the masked man on his white horse saving the day while on a charging train while the William Tell Overture plays. Despite my lack of affinity for The Lone Ranger franchise, I could not help but smile while the finale plays out and I joined the rest of the theatre in their applause.
Overall, the film has a fun ending which makes the disappointing origin story worth sitting through. Parents should note that the film is more violent that they may expect. As the rights to the franchise are now owned by Dreamworks Animation after their acquisition of Classic Media, it will be interesting to see if a sequel is in John Reid and Tonto’s future. Of course, that is all moot if the film fails to bring in A LOT of silver. A fun note: Both the Disneyland Hotel and The Lone Ranger were both owned by Jack Wrather.
I give The Lone Ranger 3 out of 5 cowboy hats.
The Lone Ranger is released July 3. The film is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence and some suggestive material.