Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers

Tonight, I saw the new “Chip ‘n Date: Rescue Rangers” movie, which came out on Disney+ back in May, and I will let everyone know what I thought of it.

This latest Disney plus original movie, directed by Akiva Schaffer, is a delightful and cameo-filled buddy cop adventure that, while not the most memorable film, is definitely a lot of fun. By using an amazing combination of animation style and satirizing at the contemporary entertainment industry, the film perfectly puts itself as this generation’s “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” and asks itself the question: how many reboots does the business have left until it has completely had enough?

Certain films like “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” the film showcases a realm where animated characters exist with humans and share the same concerns and pressures that any person in the entertainment industry might have. To get this, the film makes great use of a combined animation style. Previous uses of this style focused on combining 2D animation with live-action. Just recently films like “Space Jam: A New Legacy” and “Ready Player One” included human and 3D-character interactions. Yet, Chip and Dale takes this style further by successfully combining a huge variety of styles. In this version of LA, there are sock-puppets, Claymation figures, hand-drawn characters, CGI characters, and the completely upsetting characters of the “Uncanny Valley” all of them flawlessly interacting with live-action characters in a way that is completely impressive.

One of the most exciting elements of this genre of “entertainment industry/blended animation” stories is that there is a potential for cross-franchise crossovers. “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers” does not steer away from them. Actually, it makes the best use of cross-franchise cameos in recent memory. There are surprise appearances by Shrek, My Little Pony, E.T., and even the infamous rejected design of “Sonic the Hedgehog” from Jeff Fowler’s movies. Sonic even has its creepy teeth back. Pedro Luis Graterol said in his review, “My personal favorite is what seems to be Dobby the elf, from the Harry Potter movies, in a Gucci advertisement.” All of these appearances make this combined realm even richer.

Yet, even with all of this variety of character cameos, the film doesn’t overwhelm audiences by becoming cameo-filled. For instance, there’s a moment where the titular chipmunks drive down the freeway talking about their estranged relationship where all of the cameos and references are referred to the billboards around the road. The cameos in the film doesn’t overwhelm the main story where, decades after the cancellation of the show “Rescue Rangers,” Chip and Dale steer their friendship as they try to solve the mysterious disappearance of their mutual friend and castmate, Monterrey Jack.

There aren’t big surprises in the script. Audiences familiar with crime stories will be able to quickly deduce the plot. There are plenty of good laughs, most of them focused in seeing famous characters fully grip the modern entertainment business: like seeing Baloo and Lumiere at a convention. However, sometimes the humor comes of as cringey. Graterol said, “In addition, the film actively seeks to place itself as a spiritual successor of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? by making references to its characters and even to its terrifying cartoon-erasing chemical, the dip. Yet, Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers lacks the narrative depth and social commentary that its claimed predecessor achieved. There’s an adventure, mystery, a fair amount of chaos, and in the middle of its plentiful self-referential jokes, a nice tale of friendship that is a bit thin and doesn’t strike as one that is particularly innovative or memorable but is very enjoyable for audiences of all ages.”

The performances by John Mulaney (Chip) and Andy Samberg (Dale) are the main highlights. Graterol credited, “Their chemistry and chaotic whimsy make their friendship the heart of the movie. In addition, the writing for their characters incorporates their distinctive comedic styles. Mulaney’s analytical approach to social situations and Samberg’s goofiness is quickly transposed into Chip and Dale and make the transition to listening to the characters, as opposed to listening to the comedian behind the microphone, quite easy.” The rest of the cast, which includes J.K. Simmons, Keegan Michael-Key, Seth Rogen, and Will Arnett all give solid performances. Also, Kiki Layne’s performance as Ellie Whitfield is likeable, but her character should’ve been given additional screen time and depth beyond her being a fangirl of the protagonists to fully show Layne’s acting abilities.

As the tagline of the movie says “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers” is not a reboot, it’s a comeback. It doesn’t try to re-imagine the Rescue Rangers but rather is an enjoyable movie that satirizes at the modern entertainment industry with a familiar story that might not be the most memorable but that makes for an entertainment watch, and that presents itself as one of the best candidates in the realm of blended animation movies.

I’m only a little familiar with Chip ‘n Dale because I think I only saw a little bit of it growing up during the “Disney Afternoon.” I remember we used to have the toys, which we still have in boxes, so this film was actually a surprise. I thought it would be a movie adaptation of the show, but the direction they took it, I was happy. Check it out on Disney+ if you’re familiar with the characters or not. You will enjoy it, I promise.

Thank you for joining in on tonight’s review. Stay tuned next Friday for the continuation of “Starship Troopers Month.”