• Composed by Brian Tyler

The live action / animation hybrid Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers is about as subversive a movie as could be made in the corporate Disney+ umbrella, quite entertaining and sometimes amusing, with a large amount of IP on display for you to point at. Providing the music is Brian Tyler, always capable of conjuring up an ear-worm theme and that’s exactly what he’s done for this score. To get to it you have to first navigate the rather unlikely audio spectacle of Post Malone singing the old Rescue Rangers theme song, but it’s worth it (and some younger associates of mine have pointed out that it’s no longer necessary to listen to every track on an album): the “Rescue Rangers Anthem” isn’t just very catchy, it manages to sum up the movie really very well in the space of a couple of minutes, being fast-paced fun, with a nod-and-a-wink sitting over fundamental good-naturedness. It appears all over the score, malleable as it is, and despite the album being very lengthy it never outstays its welcome.

A secondary theme dominates “Sweet Pete Suite” (no, I haven’t checked to see if Michael Giacchino is listed as cue title consultant) which – while not as memorable – is also very warm and appealing. Much of the score has a bright action/adventure vibe which recalls times past: clearly appropriate for a nostalgic reworking as this is. Tyler is no stranger to writing big action spectacles, but they’re rarely as colourful as this: a good, old-fashioned orchestral romp. At times there’s a change of pace: the delightful lounge jazz version of his main theme in “Chip off the Ol’ Block”, the interpolation of the great Disney song in “Bare Necessities” – but it’s mostly action all the way. Throughout it all, Tyler manages to leave an impressive sense of warmth, letting you know the film is sincere in its attempt to provoke nostalgia and not just leave you jerking your head around as you spot familiar characters and props on the screen. It’s a comparatively rare venture into family movie territory of late for Brian Tyler and a reminder that he can cover that territory well; while the score as a whole might not lodge itself between your ears as much as its main theme is likely to, it’s a very pleasant listen.

Rating: ***

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