I was a bit beyond kids programmes by the time Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers came out, so aside from the insanely catchy theme song, don’t have any memories of the cheeky scamps now updated and featured in Akiva Schaffer’s new mix of animation and live action. So I’ll body-swerve any notions of comparison, and approach this as a Lonely Island film instead; Andy Samberg is clearly one of the driving forces here, working with fellow group member Schaffer, and while some may scoff, Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers is not just for kids. In fact, discerning adults will find much to enjoy in this Roger Rabbit pastiche, which certainly offers enough gags and pop culture references to justify a deep dive into the Disney+ streaming service.
Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers isn’t the usual reboot; it’s quite the opposite, offering a withering commentary on the notions of franchises, sequels and animation generally. We establish that Chip (comic John Mulaney) and Dale (Samberg) have been riding high on the hog on the success of their tv show, but then go separate ways due to creative differences. Chip remains 2D flat animation, while Dale gets an augmented 3D CGI make-over. The two join forces to solve a mystery; cartoon characters are going missing, and the duo discover that they’re all being bootlegged; having their notable appendages removed and forced to make cheap knock-offs of their classic films.
Schaffer claims he didn’t want to include easter eggs and cameos unless they moved the plot forwards; fortunately, he doesn’t seem to have had many ideas that didn’t make the grade on both counts. We get the right tone early on with the introduction of Ugly Sonic (Tim Robinson) the human-toothed version of the popular hedgehog who was dropped from the first film due to negative public reaction. There’s also some sly gags about poor eye-line work, and Seth Rogen has a cameo as a badly animated Viking who suffers from the dead eyes of many Robert Zemekis characters. A list of the cameos here would be longer than the review; MC Skat Kat, Roger Rabbit himself, ET, Batman, live action Paul Rudd, the cats from Cats; the IP licencing department must have been burning the midnight oil to make all this happen, although crucially, this is all required for a very 2022 story about how IP changes with the times.
What’s crucial here is that Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers is probably the funniest film of the year so far, festooned with a plethora of great jokes and one-liners carefully crafted to Mulaney and Samberg. From the jibes about “non-brand specific cola’ to the ‘Coercive Insurance’ company, almost all the Tex Avery-style gags work, and there’s delightful moments such as Chip’s withering look at Dale as they drive around in their souped-up car. And the mix of 2D and 3D animation is a winner too, giving the film a fairly unique aesthetic. I had zero expectations of Rescue Rangers, but it’s a well-paced, clever, inventive movie that deserves a wider audience than just Disney+; taking risks looks pretty good when the risks pay off. Throw in a Post Malone cover of the iconic theme song, and we’re ready to rock! Ch-ch-ch-chip n’ Dale, Rescue Rangers!
Will you be reviewing the new Paddington short?
Not without some editing of expletives.
Didn’t realise marmalade was an expletive.
It is the way I use it.
Lady Marmalade a character in Countess Dracula?
You’re making up your own films now…
And why not?
Classic Barry Norman quote…
He was always stealing my best lines.
Gotta say, that mix looks REALLY weird. Even weirder than David Lynch’s Dune. Mrs B was a huge fan of the tv show so if it ever shows up anywhere besides Disney+ we’d probably rent it. Like from redbox or something.
It will turn up elsewhere, their exclusive deal will only last so long. I loved that they put questionable CGI front and centre and made fun of it. This should be funny to you AND Mrs B. FacT!
Excellent recommendation then. No need for a CountER FAct at all.
Correctamundo..
What does the lead actor in Shang Chi and the 11 Rings have to do with this? I’m confused.
I think Alex is very much absorbed with Shang Chi right now. It’s taken him a month to digest it.
Good. Nope.
I’ll have to take your first answer. That’s a quote for the poster. ‘Good’ . That is the correct answer. Corectamundo.
Not sure if this rave review is enough to overcome that very unfunny trailer.
Very unfunny to you, maybe Bunty, but laughed out loud a dozen times watching this movie, the good times still roll for those of use who are not the enmired in how the panoptic model of surveillance has been diffused as a principle of social organization…
The movie may be a riot, but there was nothing funny in the trailer.
Were you up all night reading Discipline and Punish?
The History of Sexuality, actually. You were the centrefold.
I didn’t think that was any good. Couldn’t get past the first volume. Were you reading up on it to review Chippendales?
That’s where your gatefold was, when I looked up the Chippendales in Foucault’s The History of Sexuality, there was a huge pic of you, so it did happen. I always have that book in one hand when considering cartoons about chipmunks. Have you considered reviewing the Alvin and the Chipmunk’s boxed set? Chipwrecked?
What do you have in the other hand? Wait, don’t answer that!
Have you ever eaten at Chipotle?
No But now I understand what Noel Coward said after seeing David Stoney’s The Changing Room, now I know what a chipolata looks like! Hahaha!