Hi-ho Silver, The Lone Ranger finally rides on to the big screen. From almost everyone who had a hand in creating Pirates of the Caribbean comes an exhilarating, explosive, movie with fun performances and genuinely funny moments. But I must warn those who love the original TV series and consider Clayton Moore the one and only Lone Ranger: You may hate this movie’s guts. If you’re one of those people, you will either have to go in with a clean slate or you might just have to sit this one out if that’s too much to handle. Director Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl) brings a new vision with The Lone Ranger, and much to my surprise, his is pretty damn entertaining. It’s a bona fide summer blockbuster and while Verbinski set the bar perhaps too high with the original PotC, The Lone Ranger still manages to make a credible attempt to re-create that magic and it does have its moments.
Verbinski trades in the rough waves of the open sea for the dust and dirt of the Wild Wild West. The story is told through Tonto (Johnny Depp) and is telling a kid who is wearing a familiar black mask. It’s obvious the boy has heard some stories about The Lone Ranger, but he’s never heard this one. His attention is focused with his ears open once Tonto takes him and the rest of us back to the day he first met John Reid (Armie Hammer) and how his insanely unthinkable transformation of becoming The Lone Ranger became legendary.
Everything gets wild once John returns to his small town where his big brother Dan (James Badge Dale) has become the mightiest ranger around. Dan and the rest of the rangers are hired by Latham Cole (Tom Wilkinson) who is in the railroad business and its booming to say the least. Cole wants them to capture the deformed, sadistic outlaw Butch Cavendish (William Fichter) who has an appetite for human flesh. What better way to celebrate the railroad and the town’s progress than hanging Butch in the streets for everyone to see. Lucky for John, he gets invited to go along and lets just say he isn’t quite cut out for this kind of work. John believes in justice and the law and would prefer to fight you with a book than a gun. Doesn’t sound like the guy who becomes The Lone Ranger does it? We are getting to that part.
Dan, John, and the rest of the rangers set out on their journey to find this madman and bring him in. But they are soon betrayed by one of their own, and Butch and his gang ambush them and shoot all of them dead. Or so they think. John wakes up from being almost buried alive by Tonto. He is the only ranger left breathing thanks to a majestic, scene-stealing white horse whose name we all know. Tonto wanted the horse to choose Dan, but no such luck. John was the chosen one because he had been to the other side and is now referred to as a “Spirit Walker.” As much as The Lone Ranger and Tonto seem to be a great team, it gets off to an extremely rough start. However, both men have interest in getting revenge on Butch and those responsible for the betrayal and death of Dan Reid. Whether they like it or not, this odd duo must work together to battle corruption and greed in the old west in order to provide justice for those who took everything away from them.
So much of this movie relies on the chemistry between The Lone Ranger and Tonto, which makes the casting very important. I was not so sure at first, but I must say Hammer and Depp are worthy choices to take on these famous roles. Hammer not only looks the part with his dashing good looks but it does not hurt to be charismatic as well. And I think it is a bold decision by Verbinski to make it a struggle for John to eventually become The Lone Ranger, but Hammer pulls it off nicely. At times, he makes John the last person you want to see put on that black mask and save the day.
Let’s face it. Depp loves being thrown in to crazy costumes and having God knows what smeared on his face. This should come as no surprise, but it’s Depp who becomes front and center, and that’s saying something since he isn’t playing the titled character. The banter and reluctance that occurs between The Lone Ranger and Tonto provides some real humor that makes the movie stronger and much more entertaining. This is nothing against Hammer’s performance, but Depp gives the The Lone Ranger a vital boost. Without his eccentric behavior and quirky humor, the movie would not be nearly as inciting. If we look back at works such as Pirates of the Caribbean and even last year’s Dark Shadows, you do not have to like them, but there’s no question Depp breathes new life in to movies and brings something only he can to the character.
The Lone Ranger is big and boisterous, and Verbinski knows how to handle such material. He manages to include things from the classic television show and the origin of The Lone Ranger. At the same time, he brings a fresh, interesting look at an old hero and his wise Indian friend whom many may already know too well. Verbinski is not afraid to change it up a bit and let his innovative vision shine through the classic action western genre. Yet the movie does run in to some issues and Verbinski, intentionally or unintentionally, slows down The Lone Ranger and not in a good way.
First of all, the movie has no reason to be 139 minutes long. It is completely unnecessary. Now it never gets downright boring, but there are more than a few scenes that could have been done away with because it serves no purpose to further the story (I am looking at you Helena Bonham Carter). Also, there is a romantic sub-plot between John and his brother’s widow (Ruth Wilson) that never connects. It is not given enough time or attention to make us care if they fall in love or not. We just want to see more Tonto, damn it!
Nonetheless, Verbinksi’s movie rides more than it falls and his direction sends The Lone Ranger on one hell of an adventure. It is a fun experience at the movies. It’s as simple as that. And the last time I checked, especially around this time of the year, there’s no crime against that.
Brandon Vick is the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter@SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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