Reboots. There are so many reboots these days. They’re usually a hit or miss, especially movies that mix live action and animated elements. But “Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers”, with cameos galore from today and yesteryear, an entertaining plot, and funny jokes is definitely not a miss. This film is a perfect blend of excitement and lightheartedness for all ages.

The movie follows Chip and Dale, the well-known chipmunk duo we used to see tormenting Donald Duck. We see the two friends as former actors who have drifted apart after their show, “Rescue Rangers” was canceled. The duo reunites while trying to find clues after the disappearance of a friend, and soon they become caught up in a scheme. Throughout the film, the two rekindle their bromance while trying to solve the mystery and interacting with famous singers, actors, and characters new and old from Marvel, Disney and many other franchises. It was fun to see Lumiere, Paul Rudd and Paula Abdul, just to name a few. If you pause some scenes and examine them, you will scream in excitement and surprise at how many characters you will recognize!

What makes “Chip n’ Dale” different from other remakes is that it looks at itself ironically, while remaining genuinely captivating. There are jokes acknowledging the movie is a remake (and the comedy that comes with that) and a lot of funny pop culture references that don’t feel outdated. Instead, it takes references from current shows and movies while the characters go around in a world of humans and animated 2D and CGI characters similar to those from “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” and “Space Jam”.

Another thing that adds to the experience is that the movie has some well-done emotional moments. The amazing voice acting by John Mulaney and Andy Samberg (Chip and Dale respectively) makes you feel what the characters feel. Chip and Dale’s friendship is close, but they’ve been separated for a long time and the way their bond is developed has the right amount of angst that doesn’t feel out of place with the film. It is also emotionally moving and touches on the need for relevancy. 

As with everything else in life, the movie has a few flaws despite the many areas it excels at. For one, some of the CGI looks kind of unintentionally uncanny and doesn’t really work sometimes. And at times, the story seems predictable, but the film fixes this with its unexpected twists.

In the end, the movie is unexpectedly really enjoyable and could be watched on your own or with anyone: be it babysitting, family night, or even date night. “Chip n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers” excels at character dynamics, humor, and nostalgia making this film a truly recommendable movie option. 9.5/10