I’ll be seeing Gore Verbinski‘s Rango in an hour or two. Partly because Phil Contrino mentioned earlier today that it has several Chinatown echoes. David Poland has written that “it’s a western homage ranging from High Noon to Star Wars with plenty of Budd Boetticher in the mix…[it] freely steals from every corner of film and culture.” And yet, according to Contrino and others, it’s gotten a lousy C-plus grade from CinemaScore audiences. Adults, in particular, didn’t enjoy the ride, with 25-and-overs giving it a C. What’s going on here?
The naysayers, I’m guessing, are parents who brought their kids expecting something a little less referenced and more kid-friendly. I’ll know more in a few hours.