Chip 'n Dale & Fire Island: Sweet 'n Sassy

If you’re looking for a fun movie to watch this week, have I got two insanely good recommendations for you. Whether you’re looking for a PG-rated family-friendly flick or a decidedly R-rated hilarious and romantic gay retelling of Pride & Prejudice, you are about to be so entertained.

Fire Island: There was so much hype for this movie and thank God, it was all worthwhile. Directed by Andrew Ahn and written by Joel Kim Booster (who also stars as Noah, i.e. the Elizabeth Bennet character), this is a brilliant story about a bunch of gay men who are on their annual week-long pilgrimage to Fire Island. Bowen Yang co-stars as Howie (i.e. Jane), a man who yearns for romance, while his best friend Noah is trying to urge him to be more pragmatic and just focus on getting some action. Of course, they then meet the men (James Scully and Conrad Ricamora) who will be the Bingley and Darcy to eventually sweep them off their feet. But there will be some obstacles along the way.

This movie is such a joy in the way that it takes the world’s greatest straight love story and turns it into a stunning gay romcom. No matter what your sexuality, you will relate to these characters on a completely human level - I initially declared that I was Max (Torian Miller), who only wanted to read a book instead of partying on the island, until I realized that he was Mary, the impossibly dull sister; I quickly reneged to being Noah instead, because don’t we all want to be Elizabeth? As a connoisseur of all things P&P, I naturally spent this whole movie reveling in the wonderful script and update to these characters. In 2022, the querulous character of Mrs. Bennet is now being played by Margaret Cho as a jaded lesbian who serves as mother hen to a bunch of young gay men. Huzzah!

This movie has many laugh-out-loud lines, but it also packs a hefty emotional punch. It has a lot to say about toxic gay culture and how Asian men in particular can feel invisible or ugly because everyone is fixated on worshipping fit white dudes. It has a lot to say about chosen family and the importance of listening and supporting your friends even if they don’t want the same things as you. And ultimately, it is such a swoony and perfect love story, where you get to see some gay men get their happily ever after. The setting is perfect, the sunsets over the beach are resplendent, and this movie is an utter joy. Jane Austen would be proud.

Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers: When I went to Disneyland at the age of 7, the first autographs I got in my little notebook were from Chip and Dale. Since then, I had not thought about these characters until my boyfriend mentioned last week that this movie was out on Disney+. I went in with zero expectations, having seen no trailers or anything. And boy, at the end, I had giggled my little heart out and had a great time.

John Mulaney and Andy Samberg voice Chip and Dale respectively, and that voice casting is perfection. The action picks up in our present day, where their glory days of starring in the Rescue Rangers TV show are behind them and now Chip works as an insurance salesman, while Dale keeps going to fan conventions and is desperately trying to eke out some sort of solo career in Hollywood. He has gotten "CGI surgery," so one of the funniest aspects of this movie right off the bat is that Chip still looks like an old school animated cartoon character while Dale is now updated for the 21st century. This kind of meta commentary persists throughout the film which is a wonderful blend of animated characters and human actors, and is absolutely brimming with jokes and sight gags in every frame.

Written by Dan Gregor and Doug Mand and directed by Akiva Shaffer, it’s very apparent that this is a movie made by a bunch of fans who are deep into Chip 'n Dale lore with plenty of Disney Easter Eggs scattered throughout. It’s so funny and well-observed about what it feels like to be washed up in Hollywood, but it is also clever about animation and comebacks, whilst still featuring a mystery storyline that is perfectly in keeping with the original tone of the Rescue Rangers show. This movie is fun from start to finish and offers up just enough nostalgia wrapped up in 2022 social commentary. This is a movie for the original fans like me who are all grown up now but I’m sure kids could still enjoy it today and give Chip 'n Dale a brand new audience. Which is exactly what these characters would want to happen.