Movie Review - Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers

 

I won't say too much about the Disney Afternoon because I have spoken about that quite a lot on this blog already. All you need to know is that this was one of their most popular and well known cartoons alongside the likes of DuckTales, Tale Spin, Darkwing Duck and more. Why we have a film about it now, is beyond me. But here's what drawed me to watch this film; it's another live action and animated hybrid film. But it's not like what we have before. Instead, it's live action with various forms of animation within including traditional 2D animation, creepy CGI, good CGI and more all coming from different eras too. Sounds like there is a lot going on with this film, with some pop culture and non-Disney things appearing too. So let's take a look:

In a world that's populated with humans and cartoon characters (many of which are well known, beloved and occasionally hated), we learn how the main characters Chip (voiced by Mason Blomberg and John Mulaney) and Dale (voiced by Juliet Donenfeld and Andy Samberg) met which was at school. They become best friends and later on move to Hollywood where they star in their own show Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers in the 90s. All seems well and they both have a successful career working together. That is until Dale is offered his own solo show, which causes the pair to fall apart and distance themselves. 30 years go by where Chip becomes a successful insurance salesman whereas Dale (who has had CGI surgery) is on the fan convention circuit. Their old star and friend Monterey Jack (voiced by Eric Bana) calls them as he owes money to the criminal Valley Gang due to his stinky cheese addiction. He warns the pair of cartoon characters being kidnapped, altered and bootlegged and despite a frosty reunion between them, Chip and Dale agree to work with the police to bring this operation to an end just as their friend Monty gets kidnapped.

This film has tons of cameos, Easter Eggs and references that are too hard for just one sitting to spot. All you really need to know is that it's not just Disney ones to spot, which is reassuring to know should we have another film like by any studio. So, although possibly not needed anyway, this is very much the Roger Rabbit film of current times. It's funny, meta, pokes fun and pays homage to many well known film lines and clichés, and it's more entertaining than it has any right to be. Though some inconsistencies arise as it makes out that the show had hundreds of episodes (in reality it had around 60 which is still a lot) and other stuff too. But yeah, definitely worth a watch, particularly if you were a fan of the original cartoon and don't mind it being different from what the cartoon was. The only other thing I would add is that it may have worked better as a film for mature audiences, especially with all the things that are in the film that are not all for children. 9/10