Great voice actors (John Mulaney and Andy Samberg) and crew attached can’t elevate “Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers,” a stale animated v. live-action comedy with only one mindset: the more IP and references, the better.
The anthropomorphic chipmunk duo, Chip and his pal Dale, debuted way back in 1943. Since then, they have been roaming around several cartoon shows (“Darkwing Duck,” “TaleSpin,” “House of Mouse,” and “Duck Tales”) and in the U.S. parks. Eventually, they got their chance and received their TV show in “Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers,” debuting in 1989 and finishing with three seasons. In 1990, the show stopped airing, but people didn’t forget about them. Even when the “Alvin and the Chipmunks” craze arrived in the late 2000s and early 2010s, “Chip ‘n Dale” remained prominent characters. They may have annoying high-pitched voices, but they were adorable characters.
Another in a Line of Disney Reboots
Disney has tried to reboot classic films or characters in the past few years. They are successful because they are prominent IPs, but the final product, on most occasions, lacks any heart and originality. The latest example comes with the Disney+ original film, the animation-live-action combination flick named after the throwback show. It contains heart and a somewhat punchy script by the Lonely Island crew, albeit its reliance on the same gags causes it to be a misfire.
The film begins with a quick introduction of how Chip (John Mulaney) and Dale (Andy Samberg) met in school when young. The two were lonely kids who didn’t fit in, but after one prank by Dale, Chip makes friends with him because he thinks it is funny. After that, they join forces to forge a great bond, working on talent shows and creating slapstick comedy set pieces and sketches. Once they graduate, the duo decides to move to Los Angeles and achieve their dreams.
You can only go so far with making a film of a cartoon series.”
After a couple of commercials and minor appearances in films, they get a special call. “What do you think about getting your own TV show?” says their agent. They gladly accept the offer, hence the creation of “Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers,” an animated adventure comedy with likable characters, including Monterey Jack (Eric Bana), Gadget Hackwrench (Tress MacNeille), and Zipper (Corey Burton). Everything is going swell; season three of the show has already wrapped. However, Dale has been offered his “Spy” series, where he is the lead. He decides to go for it since he doesn’t want to be the second spoon.
Fans of the series will no doubt still get enjoyment out of the duo’s reunion. (Photo credit: Disney +).
The Risks of Turning a TV Series into a Film
The Rescue Rangers get canceled after a few attempts at filming episodes with only the only chipmunk being Chip. The film flashes forward to today’s time, a world ruled by CGI animation, reboot fondness, and IPs galore. While Dale spent some money on getting a CGI operation and does not have much work delivered to him, Chip sells insurance and lives with his dog. Things aren’t going right for them, but destiny has managed to cross their paths after their good friend and co-worker, Monterey Jack, has been captured by Sweet Pete, aka. Peter Pan (Will Arnett), because he owed some money.
This worries the animated creatures because he will get rebooted—shipped off to a foreign country to create cheap rip-offs of Disney classics. You can only go so far with making a film of a cartoon series. This is the entire set-up to the film; it’s basically an episode of their series, but extended into ninety minutes. Of course, it contains a bigger budget and has much to play with, given today’s technology and access; however, there is something that makes the movie feel restrained.
In ‘Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers” case, the quips and jokes revolve around the current trend…”
And although this primarily explores the outer world where the caricatures and human beings live along with each other, it is, at its core, an episode of the beloved ’80s series. There are occasions when you don’t feel that sensation since it has some cinematic sensibilities. It would feel like one’s watching a film rather than a TV show or special. An example is the 2007 “Simpsons” movie, where it knew it was the show extended into a cinematic format; but its approach to the gags felt cinematic instead of rapid-fire TV pitchings.
The reboot treatment finds its way to “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.” (Photo credit: Disney +).
Samberg and Mulaney Provide Great Voice Acting Throughout
In “Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers”‘ case, the comedic quips and jokes revolve around the current trend: multiverses. Well, not precisely a multiverse per se, but a conjunction of every character you could imagine growing up with; it’s all put into a blender and poured into the Lonely Island crew’s pens. That may sound intriguing, and it is up to a certain point. You may at the initial appearance of Ugly Sonic (played by the brilliant Tim Robinson) or some of the background posters (which include “Lego Misérables,” “Batman vs. E.T.,” a Meryl Streep reboot of “Mrs. Doubtfire,” and Dobby posing for Gucci) because they take you off guard.
You question, “How did they manage to get the rights to do all of this?” or “How did they manage to pull all of this off?” But, in the end, it, unfortunately, does these things with no effect after the fifteen-minute mark. That happens because the only way the script pulls its jokes with reference to something. There isn’t a single joke that runs solitary; it’s permanently attached to one of the multiple IPs it has the rights to parody. As a result, there isn’t much value when you pick it apart, even with great voice actors and comedians like Samberg and Mulaney as your titular chipmunks.
There isn’t a single joke that runs solitary; it’s permanently attached to one of the multiple IPs it has the rights to parody.”
“Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers” could have been crafted to fit a different schematic rather than just be yet another project that relies on other products just to sustain or keep itself afloat. I wish I liked this one because it seemed like a fun animated comedy with spy elements and great voice actors, but some of its best gags are in the trailer, and what’s left doesn’t have much heft or creativity.
“Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers” is currently available to stream on Disney +.
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