Disney’s streaming service has become just one massive home to Disney’s library. You really can’t tell how much you have until it’s all on one service in front of you. What makes Disney Plus different to Netflix is nostalgia, it might as well be called Nostalgia Plus because it’s just you being spoon fed unreasonable proportions of nostalgia. Chip n’ Dale Rescue Rangers might not be on everyone’s most wanted dish of nostalgia but the film saves Disney’s live action films and even adds something more to the streaming service.
Chip n’ Dale Rescue Rangers is a hybrid film with live action and animation. The film stars John Mulaney and Andy Samberg as Chip and Dale who have been living separate lives since the end of the Rescue Rangers tv show. Now Chip and Dale must come back together to explore the underground of the cartoon world in order to solve their biggest mystery yet.
IP is king currently in the world of film and television and Chip n’ Dale uses it to the extreme. There is easily a character for everyone. Rescue Rangers is a spiritual sequel to Who Framed Roger Rabbit and the director Akiva Schaffer uses the perfect amount and the best characters. What is most surprising is the characters and references in the film with one specific blue video game character having an alarming amount of screen time. Most of Chip n’ Dale’s jokes, laughs and gags are thanks to these references in this weird world they live in and it works so much better here then it does in films like the new Space Jam.
Chip n’ Dale’s adventure is short and sweet, it doesn’t overstay it’s welcome and it gets right into the story. A quick moment explaining the Rescue Rangers and then the duo are off to have their moment of live action glory. Disney’s currently live action films based on animated or Disney Parks IP hasn’t exactly been a home run. From Mulan to Tomorrowland each have their issues and each don’t really prove their existence to be worth making it over something original.
Disney Plus is a platform for Disney to make stories and content about smaller characters, get it because Chip n’ Dale and small. Chip n’ Dale would’ve never been made into a film for cinemas but now that Disney Plus exists its easily the best original film on the streaming platform. The film shines with creativity and freedom and hits you with nostalgia and laughs that the whole family will enjoy. There are funny concepts like Dale’s CGI surgery that is Disney making fun of itself and all of the other animation studios.
Unlike other live action remakes/reboots/requels/whatever they want to call it now. Chip n’ Dale Rescue Rangers has some real refreshing spark of creative freedom to it. This freedom and comedy is something I would expect from The Lonely Island crew so I’m glad Disney allowed them to have it. John Mulaney and Andy Samberg are perfectly cast as Chip n’ Dale with Mulaney’s hilarious look at life and Samberg’s always excited attitude.
The film focuses a lot on nostalgia and it would’ve been nice to have one or two moments of originality in the story as the film’s story is quite predictable. It is a film for the whole family to enjoy so it might not be predictable to kids, I wouldn’t know because I’ve watched Rescue Rangers in the past so I guess that makes me old. The blend of animation is as good modern day as it was for Who Framed Roger Rabbit back when it came out.
Chip n’ Dale Rescue Rangers is everything I wanted it to be and more, go watch it with your friends and point at all the references. Go watch it and then watch someone’s hour long easter eggs video on Youtube. Chip n’ Dale are the unlikely heroes that prove that Disney’s live action films can work and that Disney’s original content is strong even when it’s using it’s smallest characters.
Score: 4/5