Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)

This film teaches important lessons to children in a gentle and very entertaining way. Lesson One: Discipline is important to children. Lesson Two: Anything in excess, even fun, can ruin your life. Lesson Three: The entertainment industry, although glamorous, can be harmful. Stable family life is more important. And dads are important role models for young sons. Alvin and his companions Simon and Theodore learn these lessons from their surrogate father Dave and from the hard knocks they endure as they leave Dave and rise to recording stardom. Seldom have I seen such an entertaining film spell out such excellent values for young children. In terms of pure fun, the chipmunks are believable and so precious they can make you cry. Jason Lee is outstanding as the caring "dad", Dave. The music is wonderful: great remixes of "Witch Doctor" and the Chipmunks Christmas song. Don't listen to the critics on this one. It is amazing. See this with your little ones and talk to them about the lessons the chipmunks learn. Oh, and by the way, the movie makes everyone feel like a kid again! The munks version of Funkytown will make you want to get up and dance whether you're 9 or 90. Highly recommended.

An interesting cross-section of people attended the film at the same time my husband and I did. There was a group of college kids, parents with children, and Tony and I, who were going to see how faithfully a contemporary film translated a childhood cartoon hero.

From the laughter, booing, and general merriment, I can tell you we were all having an excellent time. This definitely was not a performance that someone who likes to view films in quiet would have enjoyed.

The story: David Seville (Jason Lee) is an advertising exec with dreams of becoming a songwriter. He's got an 'in' with old college chum, Ian (David Cross), who is an exec with Jett Records, but still can't produce anything that anyone would want to sing.

It looks like David's never going to be able to quit his day job until three chipmunks get their pine tree home chopped down and taken to the lobby of Jett Records office building. They stowaway in a basket of muffins David's swiped from Jett in a fit of pique.

A few hours later, David discovers he's got an infestation of talking chipmunks--and the rest is pretty inevitable. He writes a song, they perform it, and become a true overnight success.

I won't spoil the rest of the story for you. This is a lighthearted film that you can take your young kids to without much problem.

Those of you who grew up with the Chipmunks will be pleased with the treatment. The group sings some of the oldies, but they also strut their stuff on newer music as well.

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"I Told The Witch Doctor You Didn't Love Me True

I Told The Witch Doctor You Didn't Love Me Nice"

("Witch Doctor")

Three CGI chipmunks carry this movie on their narrow little shoulders, and that's a very good thing, seeing that the plot is nothing special and neither are the performances of the human actors.

Unceremoniously expelled from their tree home, the chipmunks are having a very bad day, until they show their stuff to Dave (Jason Lee), a songwriter who's told to quit his day job.

What happens next is basically what you'd expect when you let three forest critters occupy your living space, as well as the inevitable series of misunderstandings that occur in mixed species family groups.

David Cross plays Ian Hawke, the hammy heavy. He's a music producer who sees dollar signs with each helium-inspired note, and has great plans for the talented trio which may or may not include dopey Dave.

The music will send adults down memory lane, with new Chipmunky versions of "Witch Doctor", "Funkytown", "Only You", and "The Chipmunk Song", and younger viewers will recognize Daniel Powter's "Bad Day". There are also some new funky songs and stylin' choreography.

Short Attention Span Summary (SASS):

1. CGI chipmunks sing and dance

2. Rest of movie is the same old song and dance

For children rated 4 stars

For adults rated 3 stars (one for each chipmunk)

Recommended as a stocking stuffer for children of all ages, and fans of the TV series.

"We can hardly stand the wait

Please Christmas, don't be late."

(The Chipmunk Song)

Amanda Richards, July 26, 2008

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Of course Richard Roeper called it awful but it doesn't take a genious to know he was going to hate it. But really the movie isn't as lame as I expected. It's certainly more watchable than the Garfield or Scooby Doo movies. It has more of a head on it's shoulder and it's more clever and entertaining. I mean it's pretty funny that instead of sounding like a chipmunk when he sucks helium out of a balloon Alvin has a deep voice.

I don't get it how Roger Ebert could recommend both Garfield movies but only give this **. Sure the end is anti-climatic but other than that it's pretty cute and harmless. Well harmless despite the one scene where Simon eats Theodore's poop making believe it's food so he won't get in trouble from Dave. That was gross and un-needed although yes I did laugh but it's not something needed in a kids movie.

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The day after Christmas my 87-year-old mother said, "I'd like to go see that Chipmunk movie." This caught me off-guard as she never asks to go to a movie anymore (too much blood, guts, violence, nudity, swearing) and the movie had gotten terrible reviews. I am not a fan of MY NAME IS EARL so I was skeptical about the "human star" too. But we went, and along with the 200 or so kids, we had a fantastic time. We both LOVED this movie. Everything about it is adorable. I can't wait to own it so we can enjoy it over and over. I bought the CD of the music to tide me over until the film is released.

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