While sure to secretly entertain the child in all us adults, here’s a flick absolutely guaranteed to entrance the under-10s.
Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)
Tomatometer
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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 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
Reviews for Alvin and the Chipmunks
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’.
Nippers will love it (it did incredible opening weekend business in the States) but adults may find themselves idly dreaming of gin traps.
Is it for kids? Adults? Marsupials? Martians? Who can tell. Jason Lee from My Name Is Earl stars - if that is the word - in this thoroughly brain-dead semi-animated family comedy.
It’s the kind of family entertainment that makes you reach for the shotgun.
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.
Nostalgia counts for something, I suppose, so while I wouldn't exactly recommend this thing, I at least found it kind of innocuous.
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.
Fun musical numbers and cartoonish humour give way to a bland sermon about the evils of the music industry.
Desperately conceived on every level, this forlorn family film amounts to little more than celluloid roadkill.
The acting is fine and the Chipmunks are cute but the script is poorly developed and there are very few actual laughs.
My personal belief is that no chipmunk in its right mind could be made to sing 'ting-tang-walla-walla-bing-bang' at gunpoint.
With such a thin plot, the CGI here is adequate yet underwhelming, and the same can be said for the gags
Four out of five stars for being cuter, funnier, and, besides, the character design far exceeded my expectations.
Arguably the most irritating novelty act in record history gets a CGI-updating...and the result is pretty annoying itself.
The story may be non-existent and the acting pedestrian at best, but the chipmunks are just so darn cute that the film will make you smile—you may even sing along at times.
It's not made for the pretentious New York film critic. Instead, it's a film filled with slapstick, silliness and its fair share of bathroom humor.
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