Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers

Starring: Andy Samberg (voice), John Mulaney (voice), KiKi Layne, Will Arnett (voice), Eric Bana (voice), Flula Borg (voice), Dennis Haysbert (voice), Keegan-Michael Key (voice), Tim Robinson (voice), Seth Rogen (voice), J.K. Simmons (voice), Tress MacNeille (voice), Rachel Bloom (voice), Jim Cummings (voice), Chris Parnell, David Tennant (voice), Paul Rudd (cameo), Paula Abdul (cameo)
Directed by: Akiva Schaffer
Rating: PG
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure
2022

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: 30 years after their show ended, Chip (John Mulaney) reluctantly reunites with Dale (Andy Samberg) after their friend, Monterey Jack (Eric Bana) is kidnapped.

Review:

Tim: I really loved the approach to Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Like any fortunate kid of the late 80s/early 90s, I was a major fan of the animated television series. I remember eagerly waiting for each new episode. At the time, it was perhaps my favorite show. Fast forward three decades, and we get a movie. Brilliantly, though, it wasn't a straight reboot. It's actually a continuation of the series, but this film gives us it a major twist- the television series we grew up with was, in fact, a television series. And the cast were animated actors. So, what have they been up to in the 30 years since the end of the show? It's a wonderful way to tell a unique story, pay tribute to the original television series, and deliver a ton of meta jokes. This film is great for kids, but it more specifically is targeted at my demographic. In short, I had a fun time watching this movie.

The nostalgia factor is definitely the film's biggest draw. You have these brilliant moments- like Chip is still hand-drawn, but Dale has gotten CGI surgery to look modern and three dimensional. That's a hilarious way of explaining how animated characters might feel about this shift in previous decades to more computer-generated animation. The movie also leverages its live action/animated mix to wonderful effect. It allows you to watch these older characters in a modern setting and it's so well done. There's also a bunch of truly funny add-ins that feel meta in their context. A supreme example of this is the inclusion of "Ugly Sonic". For kids, they will have no idea what this means. But, for any fan of movies (and it's a bit of a deep cut, to be fair), it's one of the funniest things I've ever seen that this film used the horrific animation of Sonic from the trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog that was decried by viewers, forcing the producers of that movie to completely redesign the main character. That's an incredibly bold move that not everyone will get it. But, if you do, it's an incredible gag. There's a bunch of similar jokes throughout the movie. I really appreciated that approach, an intelligent skewering of popular entertainment. The script was great at pulling these things in.

The story itself is fine, but it holds the movie back some. It's strange to say that, because you have all these unique, stylistic approaches that elevate the film. The mystery underneath it is a bit subpar, though. It feels like a slightly elevated mystery from the show three decades ago. So, good for consistency, but you wish the movie put a bit more into the actual story. Once the nostalgia and the unique aspects of the film start to wear off, the story bogs the movie down some. It eventually feels like too much, and the most interesting parts of the film aren't central to the actual story.

I thought Andy Samberg and John Mulaney did a fantastic job as Dale and Chip. Both actors perfectly embodied their characters and while they sound different than the animated series, their same personalities shine through. I was a big fan of both their work. Eric Bana was hilarious as Monterey Jack- it's still hard to believe it's him voicing that character. I love that Tress MacNeille returned and was able to bring Gadget to life on screen. Dennis Haysbert was funny as Zip, but I thought the whole Zip-Gadget thing felt forced and a bit ridiculous. That aspect of the film didn't work and it alienated two of the core members of the Rescue Rangers. They get shoehorned in a bit, but it was less compelling than it could have been. I always love hearing Seth Rogen and J.K. Simmons, and both men delivered great performances. KiKi Layne added a nice live action performance, delivering a complex role that kept us guessing. The voice cast was definitely a big draw.

I had a blast watching Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers. It was such an unexpected approach to the material, but it absolutely worked. It gave the characters and story new context and it was memorable and funny. Truth be told, I'm torn between my final rating. I feel like a 7 might be too low, but a 7.5 feels just out of reach. I think with a slightly stronger story that held up more, it would have gotten to the higher level. That's all quibbling, though. This was a wildly entertaining movie that hit the nostalgia notes well and was quite entertaining for today's younger viewers. My 8 year-old son and 4 year-old daughter both really enjoyed the movie. I suppose that's the big takeaway here- it's a funny, enjoyable movie for the entire family. That's a success. Now, can we please get a sequel?

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Sonic the Hedgehog, Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (television series)