It’s no secret that the world has generally become tired of remakes and reboots, so I know I’m not alone in saying that when I heard Disney would be rebooting beloved adorable chipmunks Chip and Dale, all I could do was roll my eyes. I’m willing to formally apologize for that knee-jerk reaction, because Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers is not like the rest — the movie is perfectly nostalgic but not dated, incredibly clever, and above all: completely hilarious. Disney has finally managed to release a (pseudo) reboot that lands.
The movie stars John Mulaney and Andy Samberg as Chip and Dale, respectively, in a world where cartoons are real and live amongst humans — invoking movies of the past like Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and Space Jam (but absolutely not Space Jam 2, and I don’t think that needs to be elaborated on). I truly think this a movie that anyone who enjoys laughing can enjoy, though it doesn’t exactly cater to one age group — the jokes are often probably a little clever for the young kids at home to understand and the plot a little too shallow for adults, but its hinderances don’t make you want to watch this any less. Overall, you’ve really got to give it to Disney here for being willing to make fun of themselves. Who doesn’t love a movie that is self-aware?
Mulaney and Samberg are incredibly here, and despite the fact that their voices are coming from animated chipmunks, their chemistry as real-life friends shines through often. The pair understand one another’s comedic styles and timing, and the result is interactions between Chip and Dale that are believably real, despite the fact you know they aren’t. Mulaney’s real-life cynical nature made him a perfect choice for the more serious and grounded Chip, while Samberg’s carefree personality made him an amazing match for Dale. I’d be amiss to not give a special shoutout to Mulaney who proved he has an acting range beyond comedy here — even through voice acting there is a scene where his emotional depth even had me choked up for a minute there. The entire creative team delivered spectacularly here, and I have to call attention to the hilarious dialogue that pulls in modern internet humor gloriously. I know I’ve already said the movie is funny, but it really cannot be understated — you will laugh, and it will be most of the time.
In a world where most movies are expected to deliver a satisfying cameo, this movie manages to deliver, and deliver … and then deliver again and again. Rescue Rangers is filled to the brim with hilarious cameos — the legal team at Disney probably worked an absurd amount of overtime to guarantee all of them. None of the cameos feel forced, however, and they all genuinely add to the movie in more hilarious ways than the last as the movie unfolds. The cameos add to the overall fun nature of the movie, which is only amplified by the eye-catching and occasionally jaw-dropping cornucopia of animation styles.
The most disappointing part of Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers is that the movie did not receive a theatrical release, where I genuinely feel it could have flourished for a short run thanks to the number of people who will enjoy this movie for the many nostalgia factors. Take notes for the sequel, Disney: we want Chip and Dale in theaters.
Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers is available to stream exclusively on Disney+.
