Review: New Chip ‘N Dale movie hilariously spoofs classic games, cartoons

Enlarge / When there's danger! (credit: Disney)

Traditionally, when Disney films skip theaters and go straight to video, it's not a good sign. That has changed somewhat now that the Disney+ content beast needs to be fed, yet the company still differentiates between "triple-A television" like The Mandalorian and "cheap, kid-friendly movies" like the Air Bud series.

Hence, today's Disney+ premiere of Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers-a PG-rated reboot with little in the way of advance press screenings-had us assuming the worst, despite its comedy pedigree. The Lonely Island ("Lazy Sunday," "Mother Lover") is all over the film's credits, but how much of the group's boundary-pushing Saturday Night Live work could survive the family-friendly demands of a straight-to-Disney+ launch?

I'm here with surprisingly good news. Chip 'N Dale is a self-aware comedy romp that families will appreciate. What's more, it knows exactly when and how to toy with '80s and '90s gaming, cartoon, and pop-culture references without losing character development and physical comedy.

Read 12 remaining paragraphs | Comments