These are some very long-lived chipmunks. Thirty years ago, Chip ‘n Dale were famous for their show Rescue Rangers, but time has passed, times have changed, and animation has gone through a lot of phases, some much wackier than others. Can these chipmunks still be relevant in a CGI world? Was going full Behind the Music on this trailer for Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers a brilliant idea? The answer to both of these questions is yes.
The new Chip ‘n Dale stars John Mulaney as Chip and Andy Samberg as Dale, and a whole lot of other people in unspecified roles. The chipmunks are actors, long since past their prime—much like MC Skat Cat and Roger Rabbit, who both make appearances—and while Chip seems fine with that, Dale travels from convention to convention, seeking adulation and a taste of his past fame.
This is already a little more meta than I was expecting a chipmunk movie to be, but the trailer makes it even more so. Mice high on cheese! Cats-the-movie-type-cat-people wrestling in an alley! Dale has had CGI surgery! Seth Rogen is an animated dwarf whose eyes never look where they should!
Plotwise, Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers sends the buds on a mission to find a missing castmate from their old show, but their friendship apparently needs some work, too. Along the way, they’ll run into Kiki Layne, Will Arnett, Eric Bana, Flula Borg, Dennis Haysbert, Keegan-Michael Key, Tress MacNeille, Tim Robinson, J.K. Simmons, and Chris Parnell. The whole thing is brought to us by director Akiva Schaffer (Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping) and writers Dan Gregor and Doug Mand (Doolittle). It makes me feel like I’m on drugs, and I gently wish the same for you, if you’re into that kind of thing.
Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers premieres on Disney+ on May 20th.
