After an over 30-year hiatus, Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers have returned for a new film on Disney Plus. But this seems to be a very different approach for the iconic duo, as the new film appears to be a meta-comedy, rather than the small-scaled mystery the original series was known for.
Directed by the Lonely Island's Akiva Schaffer from screenplay by writers of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and How I Met Your Mother, this Chip 'n Dale is much more self-aware than the original series. With a plot concerning how these characters have changed with today's animation, the Disney Plus film seems to have a lot in common with the Rocky & Bullwinkle movie from 2000.
That said, as a meta-comedy, Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers seems to be pretty clever. A lot is told through the animation, and Disney's done a great job integrating modern CG designs with retro 2D-inspired ones. The new voices for Chip 'n Dale are John Mulaney and Andy Samberg, and they have very good chemistry and comedic timing. Besides, Schaffer is a great comedy director, and if Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers even comes close to as funny as Hot Rod or Popstar, it will be worth watching.
The original series was up there with DuckTales and TaleSpin as one of the most successful programs for The Disney Afternoon. These were among the first children's cartoons specifically created for syndication, which was very different from the Saturday morning cartoon era. With a higher emphasis on writing and animation, these were episodes kids would want to watch more than once. This has since been the model for networks like Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, forever changing how kids' TV was produced.
Considering how influential the original Chip 'n Dale was, it would be understandable if its fans aren't receptive to this new take. Its story structure and sense of humor are entirely different. But perhaps a change of pace is a good thing, as the original series will never be recreated. The best these artists can do is move forward. After all, the recent DuckTales reboot was very different from the original, but it was still a very good cartoon in its own right.
If this new Chip 'n Dale lives up to its promise, it could create a whole new generation of fans. But if not, at least the original series will always be on Disney Plus. Fans will find out more about this new version very soon.
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers will premiere on May 20th, exclusively on Disney Plus.
Source: Walt Disney Studios
