Chips Ahoy (1956)

Excellent but underrated film

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

The acting in this movie is really good.

"Chips Ahoy" is another Disney cartoon from the Golden Age of Animation and this one runs for 6.5 minutes like most of the others and was made by the Kinney Brothers. The most notable voice cast member is Clarence Nash and maybe now you realize that here we have another Donald cartoon. Or Donald vs. Chip and Dale to be more precise. And while I really like Donald, I am not much of a fan of the other two (just like another reviewer here who enjoyed it nonetheless just like myself). Still in this one, they are better than usual and this made it easy for me to enjoy the overall outcome here. By the way, this one was released back in 1956, so it is already over 60 years old. The story is about the two rodents discovering an island full of acorns, but as the word "island" already implies, the problem is the water in-between. Luckily (or unluckily depending on the perspective and position you take), Donald has a little toy ship or model ship that has perfectly the right size to get them over the water. The rest is history and hilarity of course. All in all, this was a funny little film with a story that nicely fits the running time and offers quite a few witty and creative moments. Close to a must-see for those who love old cartoons and a good watch for everybody else too. Go check it out.

I used to enjoy the cartoons with Donald and Chip 'n' Dale, but learned to think that most of the stories were pretty cliché and unoriginal, with Donald Duck always one step behind the chipmunks. However, this one cartoon wasn't too bad. Here, the starving chipmunks "borrow" Donald's miniature model ship in order to sail to a tree to harvest some acorns. Donald, however, doesn't appreciate them taking his ship and makes several attempts to get it back.It was funny seeing Donald creating a makeshift "storm" against the chipmunks by shaking the model, pouring water into it and blowing air onto it. It is quite entertaining and engaging, but of course Donald does get his share of bad luck, unfortunately.Grade B-

Out of the Donald vs Chip 'n' Dale cartoons this one is one of my favourites. It is really enjoyable and engaging, and definitely worth seeing. The animation is lively and colourful, the music is excellent and the voice acting from Clarence Nash, Dessie Flynn and James McDonald is especially noteworthy. The conflict between Donald and Chip 'n' Dale is funny and plausible, with Dale particularly funny as the stooge 1st mate and comparisons with Abbott and Costello and Laurel and Hardy evident. The pranks played on Donald by those cute but rascally chipmunks are unpredictable and always hilarious. Overall, definitely worth seeing, you are unlikely to be disappointed. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Normally, Donald and Chip an' Dale in a short together is like nails across a chalkboard for me. They just don't mesh well as far as I'm concerned. But this one works for me. It's funny and a plausible conflict between them exists here for a change. Entertaining and engaging. Well worth watching, this runs on The Ink and Paint Club periodically. Recommended.