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Movies / Upcoming / Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks

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Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)

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Reviews Counted:98

Fresh:26

Rotten:72

Average Rating:4.4/10

Consensus: Though cutely rendered, Alvin and the Chipmunks suffers from bland potty humor and a rehashed kids' movie formula.

Australian Rating: G [See Full Rating] General

Runtime: 1 hr 32 mins

Genre: Childrens

Australian Theatrical Release:
Jan 3, 2008 Wide

US 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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Reviews for Alvin and the Chipmunks

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1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating; Australian critics are listed first)
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
06/20/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
10/18/08
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
10/18/08
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Screen International | comment Comment
10/18/08
Screen International
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Entertainment Insiders | comment Comment
10/18/08
Jonathan W. Hickman
Jonathan W. Hickman
Entertainment Insiders

The musical numbers are initially appealing – think close harmonies and smart foot stepping to the likes of ‘Funkytown’ – but the novelty is likely to wear thin for adults when the ’munks get kitted out as a street boy band.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
12/20/07
Time Out

Trite family values, mediocre CGI and a shallow anti-exploitation message do little to fill the fun-gap. Still, hard to deny the buck-toothed buggers their one moment of glory: an a cappella take on ‘Funkytown’.

Full Review Source: Total Film | comment Comment
12/21/07
Total Film

It's as if the capitalistic ventures of entertainment and the development of new technology have joined forces to ruin my childhood memories.

Full Review Source: HollywoodChicago.com | comment 1 Comment
12/14/07
Adam Fendelman
Adam Fendelman
HollywoodChicago.com

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.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
12/13/07
Andrea Gronvall
Andrea Gronvall
Chicago Reader

Hollywood continues its tired milking of old television properties with Alvin and the Chipmunks, a slick updating of the musical-cartoon franchise.

comment 1 Comment
12/14/07
Andy Webster
Andy Webster
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Fun musical numbers and cartoonish humour give way to a bland sermon about the evils of the music industry.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/20/07
Anna Smith
Anna Smith
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This curdled live action–computer animation combo seems phoned-in in every respect...

Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
01/18/08
Ben Kenigsberg
Ben Kenigsberg
Time Out New York

Unfortunately, this movie relies too much on its human actors, who are no match for Alvin, Simon and Theodore.

Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment Comment
12/15/07
Betty Jo Tucker
Betty Jo Tucker
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

preplanned pandering at its most callous.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
12/13/07
Bill Gibron
Bill Gibron
Filmcritic.com

Alvin isn't nearly as bad as Fox's marketing has been threatening, but it isn't a delight either...a glorified direct-to-video release.

Full Review Source: OhmyNews.com | comment Comment
12/14/07
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
OhmyNews.com

The film engages for about 30 minutes, or about 10 minutes longer than you might expect. This picture, after all, has only one idea: chipmunks that talk and sing. It's the same idea that fueled novelty recordings and a two cartoon series.

Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | comment Comment
12/14/07
Carla Meyer
Carla Meyer
Sacramento Bee

What happened to Alvin, the rodent counterpart of Dennis the Menace? Was he declawed in the translation to CGI?

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Inquirer | comment Comment
12/13/07
Carrie Rickey
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer

You could do worse.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
12/14/07
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

Sure, rodents are hot this year. But unlike Ratatouille's chef prodigy Remy, these mischief makers bring nothing new to the table.

Full Review Source: USA Today | comment Comment
12/14/07
Claudia Puig
Claudia Puig
USA Today
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The original recordings of Alvin were among the lowest moments in the history of popular culture. This soulless rehash, with its fart and poop jokes, proves that even one-note wonders can be diminished.

Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
12/13/07
Colin Covert
Colin Covert
Minneapolis Star Tribune
 
 
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