At times funny, and even occasionally witty, Alvin and the Chipmunks is a lively, entertaining romp that will certainly bring smiles to the young ones this holiday season.
Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:100
Fresh:27
Rotten:73
Average Rating:4.4/10
Consensus: Though cutely rendered, Alvin and the Chipmunks suffers from bland potty humor and a rehashed kids' movie formula.
Theatrical Release:Dec 14, 2007 Wide
Box Office: $217,172,612
Synopsis: This live-action/computer-animated update of Ross Bagdasarian's squeaky-voiced cartoon characters finds the chipmunks (in CGI form) transported from their woodland habitat to the city, where they... This live-action/computer-animated update of Ross Bagdasarian's squeaky-voiced cartoon characters finds the chipmunks (in CGI form) transported from their woodland habitat to the city, where they wind up in the home of Dave Seville (Jason Lee). Dave, a down-on-his-luck songwriter, realizes the potential of a singing chipmunk pop act, and becomes an unlikely mentor/father figure to feisty Alvin, brainy Simon, and dopey Theodore. Meanwhile, the threesome causes chaos in his life, leading to plenty of fun, frenetic scenarios. When a devious record executive (David Cross) enters the picture, however, Alvin and the Chipmunks must deal with both the trappings of fame and their loyalty to the amiable, hapless Dave. Directed by Tim Hill (GARFIELD: A TALE OF TWO KITTIES), ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS simultaneously modernizes and pays tribute to the classic title characters, who first appeared in the late 1950s and became wildly popular in the '60s. While Lee (MY NAME IS EARL) is well cast as the perpetually exasperated Dave, Long (LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD) steals the show as the voice of Alvin, who provides the group's lively spirit. Though some older viewers may wince at the prospect of their beloved Chipmunks rapping, the movie is generally respectful of the franchise's long legacy, and will easily win over a younger generation. [More]
Starring: Jason Lee, David Cross, Cameron Richardson, Jane Lynch
Starring: Jason Lee, David Cross, Cameron Richardson, Jane Lynch, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney
Director: Tim Hill
Director: Tim Hill
Screenwriter: Jon Vitti, Will McRobb, Chris Viscardi
Story: Jon Vitti
Producer: Ross Bagdasarian, Janice Karman
Composer: Christopher Lennertz
Studio: Fox 2000 Pictures
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Release:
Jun 16, 2009
DVD Features:
- Region 1
- NTSC
- Keep Case
- Dual Side
- Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
- (unspecified) - English
Additional Release Material:
Featurette:
- 1. Creating Chipmunk Music Featurette
- 2. "History of The Munks"
- Disc 1/Side A: ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS - Full Frame
Additional Release Material:
- Featurette: "Chip-Chip-Hooray! Chipmunk History"
Trailers:
- 1. Forced Trailers (2)
- 2. 20th Century Fox Trailers (3)
- Disc 1/Side B: ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS - Widescreen
Additional Release Material:
- Bonus Footage: "Inside Look: HORTON HEARS A WHO"
Trailers:
- 1. Forced Trailers (1)
- 2. 20th Century Fox Trailers (1)
Reviews for Alvin and the Chipmunks
The sight of enhanced Alvin and the Chipmunks in the movie of the same name is far less squirm-inducing than one might have feared.
It becomes a little difficult to distinguish exploitive "Uncle Ian" from the folks trying very hard to keep this fragile idea alive and making money. The big difference is that Uncle Ian wears out the Chipmunks and this movie wears out its welcome.
What happened to Alvin, the rodent counterpart of Dennis the Menace? Was he declawed in the translation to CGI?
The characters are underwhelming in their appeal, lacking the charm of their previous animated incarnations.
Children may laugh at the broad humor, but what's lurking underneath the comedy is dark and disheartening.
The movie manages to charm us, solely because of the inherent cuteness of its CGI stars, the famous singing chipmunks.
It's a fine-enough kids movie. Cute. Nice lesson. And better than you'd think.
The little beasties in the new film are computer-generated, reasonably realistic (way ahead of Garfield) and cute. It's not their fault the humans, especially Jason Lee's Dave Seville, are excruciatingly boring.
Thank goodness Alvin and the gang are back so they can fart in Dave's face, say things like ''Sup playa?' and sing 'Don't Cha' in the shower.
Thanks to Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Fab Fur make a comeback any pre-K kid would love.
Alvin, Theodore, and Simon have the only good lines or recognizable emotions, with Jason Lee and David Cross straining to flesh out their cardboard roles.
What we get instead is Alvin, Simon and Theodore lovingly rendered huggably fuzzy in CG, which apparently sapped all the movie’s budget so that such things as continuity and art direction have gone out the window.
Should be sent to the same movie pound as the recent Garfield pictures.
When Lee's finally called upon to yell the trademark 'Alllllvin!' it feels like a forced whimper that only reminds us how stale the decades-old material is.
There's just not enough here for a movie. It's almost as if some ideas were meant to live for three and a half minutes each Christmas season, not to get stretched to the breaking point for 50 years.
At least this film, based on classic characters, is bright and energetic, because it's otherwise condescending, corny and utterly unfunny.
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