Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers Review: A Fun, Nostalgia-Fueled Romp
Joey Gladstone from Full House would love Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers.
Why? Because Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers is filled with references to cartoons from nearly every genre and intellectual property category. It’s a cartoon fan’s dream!
The premise is that Chip and Dale are just like any other actors from a late 80’s or early 90’s television show. They have their moment in the sun and then life pulls them apart to either work the convention circuit or sell insurance in a quiet existence.
Though silly, this premise is quite effective. There are lots of stories that could be told in a world where cartoon characters co-exist with humans.
Dale: Hello, potential new friends!
Chip: Goodbye, eclectic group of bus passengers!
As a viewer, one might expect that Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers would be filled with Disney intellectual property, and that’s certainly the case. But less anticipated are the references to South Park, The Simpsons, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Sonic the Hedgehog, ThunderCats, and more! Turns out, it’s for cartoon fans of any age!
Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers is fueled by nostalgia, but is also a story about conflict, fitting in, and friendship.
For those looking for pure nostalgia, the most off-putting part is likely the new voices given to the titular Chipmunks. John Mulaney (Chip) and Andy Samberg (Dale) lend their voices and comedic timing, and even though it is jarring for fans of the original television series, it works for the film.
Even though Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers relies on nostalgia heavily, the biggest problem with it is that it doesn’t rely on it enough. Sure, the gimmicks they use work to both nostalgic (like Baloo and Roger Rabbit) and comedic (Ugly Sonic) effect. But with an entire Disney IP library at its disposal — they could have done more.
Though, admittedly — an old Peter Pan with a beer gut as a villain is a pretty great choice.
The story is a fun adventure, if a little flimsy. It’s not going to make waves in the action-adventure category. (Spoilers) One of the cops turns out to be bad, which doesn’t really work to the story’s benefit at all.
But what makes Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers special is the heartwarming story of two friends finding their way back to each other. That, boosted by a massive amount of nostalgia, makes the new take on the Rescue Rangers worth watching.
A few stray thoughts:
- The riff on actors working conventions is really fun. Using the random but lovable ensemble of Tigra, Lumiere, and Ugly Sonic really works to the film’s benefit.
- Best human cameo? Definitely Paul Rudd. “Aunt-Man” might be the best joke.
- Best cartoon cameo? That’s tougher. The mid-credits scene with Darkwing Duck is my personal favorite.
- The best nostalgic reference, but also likely to be the one that makes people feel the oldest, is Dale’s Rescue Rangers POG collection. Genius.
What did you think of Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers is now streaming on Disney+.
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Nick Hogan
Nick Hogan is an experienced podcaster and writer (particularly on media topics), who loves discussion and analysis of TV and is always looking for new shows to watch. He is also a parent who loves buffalo wings, blowing raspberries, and his beloved Cincinnati Reds.