Customer Reviews

Alvin and the Chipmunks

5 star:		(150)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

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.

"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

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.

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.

The critics were very harsh on their reviews of this movie. My husband and I took our four toddlers (5, 4, 4, and 2) to see this yesterday and I am pre-ordering the DVD today. It is cute, laugh out loud funny in places, and the music is actually very catchy. Lee is not the best actor, but he is supposed to be a washed up, committment phobe of a man...so what do they want? I think if your children are under 14 they will get a kick out of this movie. My husband and I also enjoyed it and thought it was a great day out. I can't wait to watch it again! The new chipmunks definitely have their groove on!

I took both my three year old and my six year old to this movie, and they sat through the whole thing! They were mesmerized by the silly humor. For instance, in one scene Alvin pretends to eat Theodore's poop so Dave thinks it's a raisin and doesn't get mad.

The story starts with Dave, an unsuccessful song writer, who accidentally takes the chipmunks home. This is where all the fun starts. He wants them out, then finds out they can sing! He says they can stay if they sing his music. The chipmunks grew up in a forrest with no parents, so they have NO manners. There are loads of funny scenes as they destroy his house and his social life. He is determined not to be their "dad", they're just friends.

Enter evil uncle Ian. He is Dave and the chipmunks manager, who of course, told Dave his music stunk before the chipmunks entered the scene. On Christmas, Dave had given the boys savings bonds, which granted, is a lame gift. But he meant well, and he was thinking about their future. Uncle Ian comes in with lots of toys, setting the scene for Dave is the serious one, and uncle Ian is the fun one.

Dave of course gets soft to the boys, and his desire that they have a normal childhood becomes apparent, whereas Ian just wants to make money. Ian eventually exploits the situation and the boys come to live with him. This is where the real drama comes in. You have to see the movie to find this part out. But don't worry, it has a happy ending with a nostalgic "ALVIN!!!"

The music is absolutely great. There are songs I remember from growing up in the sixties, and then there are new ones that are more in keeping with today's music.

I pre-ordered this DVD as soon as I found out it was available, and my boys and I can't wait to get it!

(please read this review in a pompous, snobbish tone) Alvin and the Chipmunks is one of those great pieces of cinematic bliss that causes the viewer to take one of two paths. The first is to follow the storyline for what it appears to be and the other is to see the story for what it really is.

What we see is a man who adopts three young chipmunks and begins a record career with them. What we're supposed to see, however, is a man, perhaps mid to late thirties, and his frantic, feeble cry for help.

Exhibit A: "Dave", if that is his real name, is the quintessential metro- male, possessing a lavish garden full of fresh flowers, an immaculate house that doesn't so much as show a hint of dust throughout, and a wardrobe that would make even the fastest trigger-tongued females pause out of respect for his delicate taste and touch. And yet, poor Dave can't catch a break. He's creepily overbearing with the ladies (and on a side note, there is enough eye-candy in this film to keep most men delightfully happy) and his entire demeanor screams one deft-defying truth as we psycho-analyze poor and pathetic Davey: that he is celibate, has been so for a VERY long time, and in an effort to proscribe the immensity of his innate desires, creates three fictitious "chipmunks" as a form of psychotic catharis. They are to him the elements that drive the demons away at night as he rocks himself to sleep in the fetal position, the saviors who keep his mind occupied when his hot neighbor walks by in a bouncy-bounce blousey-blouse. They are figments of poor Dave's baseless soul.

So our lesson is clear, kids. Celibacy is a good thing for a while, but not forever. 'Alvin and the Chipmunks' offers cathartic proof in what celibacy will do to you if you hold onto it too long.

sincerely,

the pompous, smug reviewer

Being a fan of the originals I had to check this out. My wife and I loved it. This was great fun with Dave, Jason Lee "My Name is Earl", and the Chipmunks that harkens to the original music and cartoons. Great clean family fun that should please the whole household. Updated for current times we find Dave is having trouble making ends meet since he can't sell his music. Meanwhile the Chipmunks home is made into a Christmas tree in the lobby of the Record label that Dave is trying to sell songs. When Dave is shut out by the agent he picks up passengers he wasn't expecting, talking Chipmunks. Some fairly funny moments throughout. I recommend it. Good quality DVD with great family time replayability. - C. Luster

My wife and I just bought this movie and after watching it, it proves that the T.V. and newspaper critics are wrong. But then again, that's what happens when you rely on an opinion. The best way to judge a movie is if it peaks your interest, go see it. If we see a commerical for a movie and it slightly peaks our interest then we wait for it to be released on DVD.

The story follows 3 chipmunks, Alvin and his brothers; Theodore (the one with the baby fat) and Simon (the intelligent one with the glasses). Remember the popular cartoon Alvin and the Chipmunks? Anyway, after their tree is cut down by man, they cross paths with Dave Saville (Jason Lee from My Name is Earl and A Guy Thing), who is a struggling music writer. Dave thinks hes found his big break (he gets an idea to create a Christmas song that most of us had heard on the radio during Christmas time) and tries to convince Ian (David Cross from Men in Black 2 and Scary Movie 2) who is the chairman of Jett Records. They get cold feet. At times the little fury cuties get on Dave's nerves as he hasn't fully accepted them in his house. When Alvin and the Chipmunks go to Ian to try to fix their relationship with Dave, they inadvertnly cause themselves harm. Ian sees visions of money...in his pockets. He cooks up a scheme to lure the chipmunks (who are just kids) away from Dave so he can put them through a grueling European concert tour and a whole lot more. Enriching himself at the expense of the chipmunks. Will Ian succeed? Will Dave be able to save them?

This movie was very cute. The chipmunks while they are a product of CGI animation, they were so adorable. The movie does take place right before Christmas so it seems like a holiday movie. The movie does have its funny parts, drama, and heart warming charm. I will admit that I was like," Awwwwwwww", when Theordore had a nightmare and asked Dave if he can sleep in his bed that night. Dave reluctantly said yes and told him to sleep on the other side of the bed, however Theordore cuddled up on Dave's forehead and wrapped himself in a little ball. So cute! While the animated cartoon Alvin and the Chipmunks wasn't at the top of my list when it was on ( I liked Scooby Doo, The Jetsons, He-man, The Gobots, Heathcliff, Tom and Jerry, The Real Ghostbusters, The Ghostbusters, Woody Woodpecker, Space Ghost, Transformers, and the Hurculoids; just to name a few ;-), this movie was indeed very cute with some spirts of comedy. I will admit that I did watch the cartoon when it was on before I had to go to school.

Hardly any foul language. Just one minor possible issue. Watch out for the part when the chipmunks are singing, Ian says," Make love to the music." Awkward moment alert! This is the only part that might make parents squirm but the scene moves very quickly so it will be unnoticed. I just happened to hear it, most times I'm oblivious, lol until I've watched a movie several times.

The movie has both fullscreen and Widescreen versions on one disc. Side A has fullscreen and side B is widescreen. The movie looked great on a LCD TV and playing it on a 1080p upconverting DVD (recordable) player showed an even beautiful picture. Some minor additions to the DVD include an extra about Alvin and the Chipmunks and a sampling of their music. Alvin and the Chipmunks is a great family addition to your DVD collection as well as anyone elses. Enjoy it!