Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers is a modern reboot of the 1990s fan-favorite Disney Afternoon cartoon and, despite being released straight to streaming services, is easily one of the best movies of the year so far. In addition to its immensely creative vision, hilarious script, and a mixture of animation styles, Chip’ n Dale: Rescue Rangers has a ridiculous amount of pop culture references and character cameos. Seriously, the amount of easter eggs in Chip’ n Dale: Rescue Rangers is astounding, rivaling other nostalgia-filled films like 2018’s Ready Player One. Let’s take a look at the vast amount of cameos in Chip’ n Dale: Rescue Rangers and see why this underappreciated gem is more than just a shameless reboot.
The Many Easter Eggs of Chip’ n Dale: Rescue Rangers
Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers offers a perfect set-up for character cameos and references galore, taking place in modern-day Los Angeles, California. Decades after their hit show got canceled, the chipmunk pair has split, with Chip (voiced by John Mulaney) now working as an insurance salesman while Dale (voiced by Andy Samberg) rides the convention circuit as a washed-up actor.
When their friend and Rescue Rangers co-star Monty (voiced by Eric Bana) goes missing, Chip and Dale must put aside their differences and solve the case, uncovering a potential conspiracy involving bootleg movies. Their investigation sends them far across the glitzy city of Los Angeles, where dozens upon dozens of character cameos await.
Disney Character Cameos
Considering this is a Disney property, you might expect a few Disney character cameos in Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers, but the final result is more than you might expect. The movie is very much a “who’s who” of Disney characters from the 1990s, including cameos from Roger the Rabbit, Scrooge McDuck, and even a grown-up and slightly deranged Peter Pan.
Flounder from The Little Mermaid pops up, and Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast make obvious appearances, while sentient vehicles from Disney/Pixar’s Cars roam the city streets. Some of these characters play supporting roles in the story, many cameos are “blink and you’ll miss it” style, such as a Frozone (of The Incredibles) brand frozen dinner, Jimmy Neutron’s disembodied hair, and more.
You might be surprised by some of the deep-cut references as well, including an appearance from Mrs. House (aka The Little House), from the 1952 Disney short film, The Little House. There are even a couple of live-action cameos from well-known celebrities, including Paul Rudd (who played Ant-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe), who signs autographs at a fan convention.
Pop Culture References and 90s Nostalgia
Disney characters aren’t the only cameos in Chip’ n Dale: Rescue Rangers, as a wide variety of other notable characters waltz their way through scenes with surprising frequency. At the fan convention, Dale talks shop with C-list superhero Tigra while He-Man and Skeletor hang out nearby, before getting interrupted by “Ugly Sonic” (perfectly voiced by Tim Robinson), the woefully-received version of the video game character that was ultimately replaced for the 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog movie.
Nickelodeon Jr. characters like Peppa Pig and the Paw Patrol are joked about in passing, while characters from Beavis and Butthead, South Park, and Rick and Morty also pop up for a few seconds. If you’re observant, you can even catch a billboard advertising a LEGO adaptation of the classic musical, Les Miserables, simply titled “LEGO Miserables”.
The movie is also stuffed with retro relics that are sure to make 90s kids squeal with joy, including the beloved collectibles known as Pogs, classic Nintendo game cartridges, and even references to Silly Putty. Funnily enough, Chip’ n Dale: Rescue Rangers is a movie that constantly throws shade at how badly Hollywood keeps trying to reboot and rehash old properties, while simultaneously showcasing how crossover content and nostalgia can be used to bolster a story without feeling shameless. It’s packed with meta-humor and self-aware attitude, rising above a cheap bid for nostalgic favor.
If you haven’t seen Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers yet, we highly recommend you give it a shot. Even with the surplus of character cameos, easter eggs, and pop culture references, there’s still a great story with positive themes. Whether you’re a millennial looking for some heart-warming nostalgia or simply seeking a family-friendly movie that’s more than just lighthearted fluff, Chip’ n Dale: Rescue Rangers is an exceptionally creative movie that excels in almost every way possible, making it one of the best animated/live-action hybrid movies ever made.
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