Rico is a fake bounty hunter and the secondary antagonist of Disney's 2004 animated feature film, Home on the Range. He was idolized as a hero by Buck, a horse who longed to fight by his side in capturing outlaws. However, near the end of the film, Rico was revealed to be in on Alameda Slim's scheme (as his partner), removing any evidence that may lead to the latter's capture, much to Buck's disappointment.
Personality
Rico is similar to Bill Sykes, only with a more mysterious and calmer tone, showing that he only wants and demands money without even thinking or considering the consequences after being beaten at the end of the film. In fact according to Sim, even after his true services to the rustler are revealed, he still lives up to his reputation as a professional bounty hunter, indicating that Slim may have offered him more than the $750 bounty on Slim's head did. It also shows that he has a calm patience like Shere Khan, except for incompetence and to ones who take things less seriously.
Role in the film
Rico is first seen riding into town on a horse. He silences a buzzing fly near him, to which the fly replies, "Sorry." Buck notices Rico and gets distracted from playing tick-tack-toe with Rusty. Rico is a bounty hunter who is Buck's idol, and whom Buck claims to be one of the best, although Rusty shows little interest and grows suspicious of Rico.
When Rico tells Sheriff Sam Brown that he needs a fresh horse to help him capture outlaw Alameda Slim, Buck immaturely shows off behind them and Rusty. Rico eventually selects Buck, much to the horse's delight, and then saddles him up. Buck exclaims happily that he's wearing Rico's saddle, and the two ride off together. When they travel to a cattle drive, Buck encounters the farm cows who were on a journey to capture Slim as well. Buck gets into a brief argument with the bovines, while Rico ends up choosing another horse to assist him on his "mission" because from the way he saw Buck's exchange with the cows, he interpreted it as Buck being "skittish around cows." He then tries to enlist some ranchers to return Buck, only for the stallion to escape the ranchers and run off to prove himself to Rico again.
Sometime later, Buck travels to Echo Mine alone and manages to trick the same horse from before into leaving his post so he could get back with Rico. However, when Buck gloats, he is overheard by Junior the Buffalo who snorts angrily behind him, as he had been blocking the mine's entrance when Buck made a vain attempt to get through earlier. After being chased around Echo Mine by Junior, Buck is soon saddled up by Rico, to which the horse happily gallops off with him.
When Slim reveals that Rico is in fact a mercenary who had been working for him all along (though he still lives up to his reputation as a professional bounty hunter according to Slim), Buck is left feeling betrayed and heartbroken. The horse then turns on his traitorous rider by flailing about wildly and manages to buck Rico off his saddle. When Rico attempts to shoot Buck afterwards, Maggie, Grace, and Mrs. Calloway manage to take out the fake bounty hunter. Mrs. Calloway delivers a coup de grâce by landing on top of Rico, knocking him unconscious. Buck and the cows then lock Rico in a train cart along with the Willie Brothers and Mr. Wesley, who were also beaten up by them.
It is unknown what happened to Rico afterwards, but it is presumed that he, along with the Willie Brothers and Wesley, end up being arrested (following Slim's arrest) for their crimes; however, in case they were never found, they possibly starved to death locked in the train cart.
Trivia
- Rico's final line is identical to the lead character of the 1931 film Little Caesar, as originally portrayed by Edward G. Robinson.
Gallery
v - e - d  | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|