Directed by Akiva Schaffer and based on the Walt Disney Television series of the same name, Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers is a 2022 animation/CGI/live action hybrid film. Ostensibly a spiritual successor to Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the film is set in our real world, but one where animated actors exist alongside live action actors. Chip (voiced by John Mulaney) used to star in “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers” alongside Dale (voiced by Andy Samberg), but has since stopped acting. When their former teammate on the show, Monterey Jack (voiced by Eric Bana) is kidnapped, Chip and Dale must partner with rookie officer Ellie Steckler (KiKi Layne) to investigate. J.K. Simmons, Flula Borg, Will Arnett, Dennis Haysbert and Tress MacNeille also star or lend their voices in various roles.
+ all of the voice acting is great to excellent, especially Mulaney and Samberg as the titular Chip and Dale, though I admit I did just think of Mulaney’s character on Big Mouth, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s Jake Peralta for the most part. My long time personal favourite J.K. Simmons is once again having a blast, and I get a kick out of hearing his distinctive voice every time
+ there are lots of pop culture references which are of course fun, but more importantly these didn’t feel like pandering. In a similar sense to Toy Story 3 and the age of Andy in that, I am the age now to remember watching Rescue Rangers and the other shows depicted when they aired, and have the nostalgia that is presented in the film
+ simply put, there is lots of great comedy, both visual and verbal, including lots of adult humour. This movie is just as much for adults who remember these shows as it is for kids looking for something on Disney+
+ I don’t know if it has been confirmed one way or the other, but in my opinion this is not a spiritual successor to Who Framed Roger Rabbit, it is a direct sequel. There are a lot of hints (as well as the early on very obvious reference) to that film
– things do get a little bit bloated in the third act, in a very similar way to the Lego Batman Movie, Space Jam: A New Legacy or Ralph Breaks the Internet before it. Without going into any specific spoilers, there is simply too much going on
> there are direct references to Marvel and DC characters, as well as a cosplay from Pokemon (Nintendo) and references to the Sonic the Hedgehog movie (Sega), as well as numerous other Disney, Warner Bros and Dreamworks properties: this was the first true multiverse film
> John Mulaney’s father’s name is Chip, as per Mulaney’s stand up specials, and Mulaney played the character of Chip. This is funny to me
Should you see this film: I really liked this. In case it’s not clear from the positives above, in some ways I felt like this was tailor made to hit the nostalgia I feel for this era of cartoon programming.
MoshFish Reviews 