The Lone Ranger Rides Again

The Lone Ranger (with Johnny Depp as Tonto and Armie Hammer as John Reid aka The Lone Ranger) opened over the holiday weekend to mixed reviews. Our local newspaper critic gave it a C-. Hmmmm. I’d like to make the case in support of this funny, engaging, and action packed film.

Don’t be swayed by reviews. This film had the audience laughing aloud and applauding at the end. It is a fun, somewhat goofy-humored Melodrama that romps through the Old West. Good struggles mightily to overcome evil, wrongs are righted, and a solid hero emerges through much adversity. That being said, it’s just fun to watch.

Depp, as Tonto, does some familiar Jack Sparrow bits. But, by and large, Depp is hilarious as Tonto. He handles the wonderful physical comedy masterfully and his comic timing is approaching genius level. And he just looks like he is having a ball doing it.

Armie Hammer (The Social Network) is cast perfectly as the naïve, good guy in John Reid (aka The Lone Ranger). He exhibits delightful befuddlement in engaging Tonto and
wonderful comic timing on his own. His John Reid adeptly handles the comedy, action, romance, and goofiness of his emerging character. And when his character must step up and become a hero, he handles this transition with great presence and a powerfully masculine performance. (On a side note, his personal integrity is also worthy of much support. It would be very nice for Christian audiences to rally around this young man as he slogs through the minefield of a Hollywood career).

The bad guy, Butch Cavendish, (played by the unrecognizable wonderful character actor William Fitchner) is really, really bad. Cavendish’s antics are definitely not for the younger crowd. But it is a western folks and gunfights are to be expected. Cavendish’s gang is fleshed out nicely in some very strange but comical characters. Watch for the gang member with the bonnet on his head. Too funny!

And if that is not enough, one if the best character actors in the whole world Stephen Root (Office Space, Oh Brother Where Art Thou?) is cast as the Railroad Commissioner Habberman. It is always a delight to see him.

This film takes it’s time in telling the origin story of The Lone Ranger. And it is wonderfully engaging. As the conclusion of the film begins to ramps up you know you are in for a rip roaring, very clever, funny, human cartoon ending, perfectly timed to the William Tell Overture. The Lone Ranger definitely rides again and offers it’s viewers a wonderful evening action, funny comic bits, rich characters and rooting for the good guys.

Blessings,
Jamee Kennedy
TAFF Executive Director