Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers

For those who have ever read any of my columns, you already know that I am a guy who fully embraces nostalgia. As a child of the 80’s and 90’s who adored movies, wrestling, TGIF, and cartoons, if you find a way to incorporate any of those elements into a modern production, I’m going to be there for it. It should come as no surprise then (and I see no point to burying the lede here) that I absolutely adored the new CHIP N’ DALE RESCUE RANGERS movie.

Having seen every episode of the original RESCUE RANGERS series that originally ran in 1989-90 and given the fact that I still sing the theme song on a regular basis, it’s fair to say that from the moment I heard of the film’s existence, I was excited for its release. So, I suppose the inference can be made that I am a little biased, but at the same time, I also had expectations that were probably higher than most.

Set in a ROGER RABBIT-like world where humans and animated characters live, work, and play together, the CHIP N’ DALE’S RESCUE RANGERS series was a beloved smash. The two chipmunks, who met as youths and quickly forged a bond, were the best of friends and a powerhouse duo. Chip (John Mulaney) was the straight man and Dale
(Andy Samberg) was the comedic relief. Despite the success of their show, Dale was bummed out that he was never taken seriously and when the opportunity came for him to star in his own series, he jumped at the chance. This led to the cancelation of RESCUE RANGERS and the dissolution of not only the professional partnership, but also to the friendship of Chip and Dale.

Flash forward to 2022, and the relationship between the former best friends remains the same. Dale, who has had CGI surgery, grasps to the past while travelling the convention circuit. Chip, on the other hand, sells insurance and spends time with his dog. It isn’t until their old pal Monterey Jack (Eric Bana) needs their help with his uncontrollable cheese habit that the two cross paths again. This meeting seems fleeting until Monty goes missing. It appears that he has been kidnapped by a bootlegger known as Sweet Pete (Will Arnett) who transforms Disney characters into altered versions of themselves and forces them to appear in cheap knock-offs like “Pooj the Fat Honey Bear,” “Spaghetti Dogs,” and “Jasper the Dead Ghost Kid.” The police are limited in what they can do, but these two gumshoes are picking up the slack. Though Chip is somewhat reluctant, he wants to help Monty, and the chipmunks are a duo once more.

RESCUE RANGERS may very well be the funniest movie I have seen this year. There are many laugh-out-loud moments for children and adults alike, and delightfully unexpected moments are abound. The cameos and references alone are beyond brilliant, made better by the fact that most of them are not acknowledged in any way. Eagle eyed 90’s nerds will delight in seeing McGruff the Crime Dog manning the phones at a police station while Paula Abdul cozies up to DJ Skat Kat at a dance party. There are countless moments like this, and repeated viewings may be needed to catch them all.

Mulaney and Samberg are a great team, and though I questioned how their voices would work as these beloved characters, they were absolutely seamless. The melding of different animation styles is played for laughs without ever being distracting or off-putting. Director Akiva Schaffer incorporates virtually every animation style, from old-school black-and-white animation, to puppetry, to SOUTH PARK, to the POLAR EXPRESS-type of “realistic” animation that is played for big laughs. In many ways, the film reminded me of the original LEGO MOVIE. That film took audiences completely by surprise, taking a familiar premise and creating something entirely new. It proved to be an exercise in wit and cleverness that was aimed at audience members of all ages, and while RESCUE RANGERS obviously targeted itself towards members of my generation who grew up in an age of Disney TV toons, it can (and will be) easily enjoyed by anyone.

CHIP ‘N DALE: RESCUE RANGERS: GRADE A

RATED: PG
RUN TIME: 1h 37min
GENRE: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
STARRING: Andy Samberg, John Mulaney
DIRECTOR: Akiva Schaffer
WRITERS: Dan Gregor, Doug Mand

Brian Miller