Wednesday movie roundup: Who was that masked man?

A Western hero and a former villain will duke it out in movie theaters on the Fourth of July.

"The Lone Ranger" isn't nearly as bad as you think it's going to be, and in fact it's actually rather fun. The team behind the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films – director Gore Verbinski, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and star Johnny Depp – return for a loud, overlong, sometimes chaotic but often rousing rendition of the Western legend. Depp plays Tonto, the Indian companion who rescues the ambushed Texas Ranger John Reid (Armie Hammer) and gives him his new identity as a masked outlaw riding for justice. The action set pieces, gorgeous red-rock locations (including Utah's Monument Valley and the Moab area), and Hammer's square-jawed performance are worth checking out.

"Despicable Me 2" brings back the reformed supervillain Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), this time enlisted to uncover another supervillain's nefarious plot. The story's rather dull, and is quickly taken over by Gru's little yellow Minions, who are hilarious and the real stars of the show.

Also opening today: "Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain," a concert film of the stand-up comedian's 2012 tour. It was not screened for local critics, but will be reviewed online later today.