Film Review – Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022)

Sometimes some crimes go slipping through the cracks. But these two gumshoes are picking up the slack. There’s no case too big, no case too small, when you need help just call – come on, sing along. You know you want to. Those unique, hilarious Rescue Rangers known as Chip and Dale (no, not named after the “exotic” dancers) are back after what feels like an eternity since their last notable appearance as part of the House of Mouse. Indeed, their first appearance was back in 1943 alongside Pluto in a short called “Private Pluto” but it was their legendary animated series from the late 1980s that put them on the map. Still, unlike countless other characters in the vast Disney vaults, they have been largely silent, with rumours of a feature film swirling for years without much propulsion. Enter The Lonely Island (well, two-thirds of them, in the form of Andy Samberg and Akiva Schaffer) – could they bring their unique irreverence to the children’s classic and revamp it for the 21st century?

The answer is relatively surprising and, for the most part, is yes. We have to admit, we weren’t hugely optimistic about the chances of this partnership working but after the first trailer dropped, our initial fears were allayed and, on watching it, we had quite the rollicking good ride. Taking off straight from the television show, we find Chip and Dale in very different places: thirty years on and still reeling from the end of the series, Chip is now a successful insurance salesman living with his dog and enjoying his life away from the spotlight.

Dale, meanwhile, is still courting fame despite the failure of his spin-off show and has undergone “CGI enhancement” surgery in the hopes it will keep him relevant as he tours the country at fan conventions with countless other has-beens trying to wrestle some new interest. However, their paths cross for the first time in three decades when one of their old compatriots Monterey Jack (Eric Bana) mysteriously disappears so the duo has to grab their Hawaiian shirts and fedoras to get back on the case with the help of a local detective Ellie Whitfield (the ever-brilliant Kiki Layne).

So far, so Rescue Rangers, and yet there’s more to it than just your bog-standard big-screen adaptation that so many Disney properties are having these days. This one tries to weave both the series and its new iteration into something that’s fun for kids and adults alike. There are plenty of nods to the duo’s history but its refreshing take on not only them but also the world around them is where the film really succeeds, merging the world of IPs, reboots, and flogging of dead horses to great effect. Laughs come not just from the posters than emblazon the streets of the half-human, half-animated characters – we won’t spoil some of the real doozies to be found within – but from the inclusion of some similarly underappreciated characters in the world of animation and CGI, shall we say.

Peppered with the same energy and pithy humour by writers Dan Gregor and Doug Mand (writers on the brilliant if slightly shark-jumped Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), there’s a satirical edge that pokes fun at Hollywood, studio mentalities, and the ever-changing landscapes and monopolies of the town and while some of the jokes land with a loud thud, those that hit are superbly realised. It’s also fuelled by the voice cast, led by strong turns from Samberg and John Mulaney as the titular duo, as well as the likes of Seth Rogen, J.K. Simmons, and Bana, along for a ride that even seems them poking fun at themselves in the process. All in all, a rambunctious, fun if inconsistent adventure that will keep all audiences entertained.

★★★

Animated, Comedy, Adventure | 2022 | Walt Disney Studios | Dir: Akiva Schaffer | Andy Samberg, John Mulaney, Kiki Layne, Seth Rogen, J.K. Simmons, Eric Bana, Will Arnett