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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

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Alvin and the Chipmunks

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1 - 20 (sorted by source; Australian critics are listed first)
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Click to read the article

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

Nostalgia counts for something, I suppose, so while I wouldn't exactly recommend this thing, I at least found it kind of innocuous.

Full Review Source: Aisle Seat | comment Comment
12/20/07
Mike McGranaghan
Mike McGranaghan
Aisle Seat

It's not that bad. It's just kind of gross and upsetting.

Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy | comment Comment
12/18/07
Tim Brayton
Tim Brayton
Antagony & Ecstasy

It's a fine-enough kids movie. Cute. Nice lesson. And better than you'd think.

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
12/13/07
Bill Goodykoontz
Bill Goodykoontz
Arizona Republic

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.

Full Review Source: Associated Press | comment Comment
12/12/07
Jake Coyle
Jake Coyle
Associated Press

Will true love prevail? Will Dave grow a backbone (and some real songwriting talent)? And most important, will Alvin, Simon, and Theodore survive this bland new form of chipmunk mania? They shoot rodents, don't they?

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
12/14/07
Marc Savlov
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle

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.

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
12/12/07
Keith Phipps
Keith Phipps
AV Club

With such a thin plot, the CGI here is adequate yet underwhelming, and the same can be said for the gags

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
12/18/07
Laura Bushell
Laura Bushell
BBC

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.

Full Review Source: Beliefnet | comment Comment
12/13/07
Nell Minow
Nell Minow
Beliefnet

The script leans heavily on the pranks and big-eyed cuteness of the li'l guys and leaves the live actors with unfunny dialogue and nothing to do.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
12/14/07
Ty Burr
Ty Burr
Boston Globe

The film veers into formulaic Disney Channel territory.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
12/14/07
Wade Major
Wade Major
Boxoffice Magazine

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.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
12/21/07
Saxon Bullock
Saxon Bullock
Channel 4 Film

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.

Full Review Source: Charlotte Observer | comment Comment
12/13/07
Lawrence Toppman
Lawrence Toppman
Charlotte Observer

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

I was also grateful that Alvin wears a red sweater with a big 'A' on it as an aid to identification, since otherwise all the chipmunks seem to be identical, like Mutant Turtles or Spice Girls.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
12/14/07
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Alvin and the Chipmunks goes in one eye and out the other, featuring a CGI Alvin, Simon and Theodore interacting with a human-ish world.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
12/14/07
Michael Phillips
Michael Phillips
Chicago Tribune

A lot like candy, sweet and pleasing, but ultimately disposable and empty...

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
02/03/08
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

Nem mesmo o visual engraçadinho dos esquilos e a ironia de David Cross conseguem trazer charme a um roteiro óbvio e sem graça, à atuação sem vida de Jason Lee e à direção frouxa de Hill.

comment Comment
01/06/08
Pablo Villaca
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena

" ...even if Alvin and the Chipmunks has one hand reaching for your wallet, at the very least its heart seems to be in the right place."

Full Review Source: Cinematical | comment Comment
12/13/07
James Rocchi
James Rocchi
Cinematical

Shockingly, the movie's easy to like -- an anti-Hannah Montana parable in which young performers discover they prefer the comfort and security of home to the high-pressure glitz of rock and roll stardom.

Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) | comment Comment
12/14/07
John Beifuss
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
 
 
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