The other animated chipmunks you grew up with receive a live-action feature film in Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers from director Akiva Schaffer.
Chip and Dale live amongst cartoons and humans in modern-day Los Angeles, but their lives are pretty different now. It has been decades since their successful television series was canceled, and Chip (voice of John Mulaney) has succumbed to a life of suburban domesticity as an insurance sales clerk. Meanwhile, Dale (voice of Andy Sandberg) has had CGI surgery and works the nostalgia convention circuit, desperate to relive his glory days. When a former cast mate mysteriously disappears, Chip and Dale must repair their broken friendship and take on their Rescue Rangers detective personas once again to save their friend’s life.
David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman penned the script for the film, which features so many in-jokes and meta-references to reboots, sequels, and remakes, part of the fun in watching the movie was trying to catch them all. Former SNL cast mates Andy Samberg and John Mulaney are excellent in their voice roles, and I loved the route the filmmakers took of going away from the high-pitched tones we were familiar with as kids.
Primarily the film belongs to John Mulaney and Andy Samberg, but there is also some excellent voice work from the supporting cast. This includes JK Simmons, Eric Bana, Tress McNeill, and Dennis Haysbert in roles I will not reveal. Kiki Layne also pops up in the film as a rookie detective who grew up as a Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers superfan and is more than happy to help the duo out.
Easily one of the most surprising films of the year, Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers is quality family entertainment that I highly recommend.
Final Grade: B+
Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers is streaming on Disney+ now
My Book is available on all streaming platforms
Martial arts auteur Siyu Cheng delivers his latest action-packed fest in “The Tai Chi Master” from Well Go USA. The Tai Chi Master” examines the journey of Zhang Junbao, a dedicated disciple of Wuji, who emerges as a crucial figure during significant upheaval.
On a musical level, the documentary is a library of Williams’ great works. It’s dramatic performances of his most famous songs, such as the classic “Star Wars” marches, the grand piano music from “Jurassic Park,” and the melancholy music from “Schindler’s List.” Each song is part of a narrative, a call to revisit old films and remember their heart-wrenching connections. Its thrilling finale (which celebrated his work on “Harry Potter”) also underscores the longevity of his music among audiences today.
Megan Fox teams up with director S.K. Dale to bring her feminine wiles to the world of A.I. in “Subservience” from XYZ Films. Will Honley and April Maguire wrote the film’s screenplay. Alice (Fox) is a lifelike, artificially intelligent android who can care for any family and home. Looking for help with the housework, struggling father Nick (Michele Morrone) purchases Alice after his wife Maggie (Madeline Zima) becomes sick. Alice suddenly becomes self-aware and wants everything her new family has to offer, starting with the affection of her owner — and she’ll kill to get it.