Alvin and the Chipmunks
Thursday, 20 Dec 2007 16:56
Alvin, Simon, Theodore...
Directed by Tim Hill, starring Jason Lee, David Cross and Cameron Richardson, out Friday December 21st, running time 90 mins.
In a nutshell
Squeaky-voiced heroes take over world
What's it all about?
Three chipmunks who have squeaked their way to notoriety ever since they first appeared on the scene in the 1950s. Maybe it's to be expected when you have three rodents who can not only talk but can sing the latest tunes in something close to harmony too, but they have certainly made their mark. Their first incarnation was as the cover stars on mid 20th-century records, they then moved to cartoons in the 80s and 90s and are now regular Hollywood actors of the CGI variety.
Alvin – the awesomest one – is the leader of the bunch and even gets the first letter of his name on his knitted jumper. Simon is the brains and Theodore is the slightly wimpy one you either want to hug or give a short, sharp kick up his rodent behind to. To cut a pretty short story even shorter, the three chipmunk brothers find their way to the house of failed songwriter Dave and finally win him over when they start to sing on his doorstep. Needless to say, they become overnight sensations, go on a world tour, suffer from exhaustion and then realise that, actually, family is the most important thing after all.
Who's in it?
Jason Lee has the unenviable task of having to act for the vast majority of the film with co-stars who don't actually exist. As the lovable loser Dave he initially treats the chipmunks as pests but then learns to love them like his own. Bearing in mind how ridiculous a scenario that actually is, the My Name is Earl star does a commendable job. He's been criticised by some for not looking entirely comfortable with the task at hand but, really, how comfortable would we expect a man talking to three tree-dwellers to look?
David Cross (Arrested Development) plays the mean-but-cool record industry type who only sees the money that the 'munks can make him. He hams it up as 'Uncle Ian' but grinds them to the ground with his demands for more, more, more. He's clearly the pantomime villain for us to hiss and boo at and seems to quite enjoy taking on that role.
Die Hard 4's Justin Long has been inhaling the helium in order to provide Alvin's voice, while Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney speak for his chipmunk brothers.
As an example...
Dave: "Chipmunks can't talk"
Alvin: "Er, well our lips are moving and words are coming out"
Dave [as he spots something brown under Theodore]: Theodore, did you just…?
Alvin: Relax Dave, it's just a raisin.
Dave: Prove it.
Alvin [eating]: Yummm.
Dave: OK [leaves]
Alvin [spits out 'raisin]: Dude, you owe me big time!
Likelihood of a trip to the Oscars
There's more chance of three singing chipmunks turning up at your door.
What the others say
"It’s the kind of family entertainment that makes you reach for the shotgun. I have no idea who could possibly be entertained by this nonsense. A chap called Ian, who owns Jett Records, steals the chipmunks off Dave by bribing them with hundreds of Christmas presents to tour the world. Break a leg, Ian. I hope the ship sinks." – James Christopher, Times
"If the idea of three squeaky-voiced squirrels as pop gods makes you shudder, Alvin and the Chipmunks won't make you change your mind - but there's enough spritely mischief in this flawed family comedy to provide some light-hearted fun." – Saxon Bullock, Channel 4
"More than hyperactive enough to engage small fry with microscopic attention spans, Alvin and the Chipmunks also has built-in nostalgia appeal for baby-boomer parents and grandparents willing to accept 21st-century remixes of novelty songs and cartoon characters from the 1950s and '60s." – Joe Leydon, Variety
So is it any good?
Let's get a few things clear from the off - 1) it's Christmas, 2) this is a film primarily for kids and 3) every once in a while it's good not to take ourselves seriously for an hour or two. It's actually quite hard a critic with many good words to say about this film and yet it will inevitably be a hit. It's amusing, breezy and has just enough satirical edge to keep happy the adults who have had to take their own little chipmunks to the cinema.
Alvin and the Chipmunks was a classic Saturday morning TV show and this film is true enough to the original to appease those who remember weekend mornings in stripy pyjamas in front of the box as a child. But Tim Hill has again managed to achieve what he did with Garfield and bring an old franchise into the 21st century. Kids today will love the new songs and the light-fantastic show that is the chipmunks' world tour. There's even the obligatory bit of bottom humour when Alvin has to cover for Theodore by popping the 'raisin' which he just produced into his mouth in front of Dave.
Certainly, the high-pitched songs can start to grate after a while but, to be honest, so can much of the 'real' music around at the moment. For those who have knocked this film for being too immature, there's just one message – forget being a grown-up for a moment and remember the joy you used to get from meaningless, mindless magic just such as this. It is Christmas after all.
8.5/10
Martin Ashplant
"I am very impressed with your critic's discerning taste in choosing which other critics to quote." - Joe Leydon
"Loved this film!! So glad it's on DVD already! Has anyone seem this YouTube clip? It looks like the chipmunks go on X Factor and really wow Simon Cowell!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5q6DypD_KM" - Liz Brown
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