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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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61 - 80 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
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Young viewers will enjoy the slapstick, while parents will relate to Lee's amiable frustration as the trio's surrogate dad.

Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press | comment Comment
12/14/07
John Monaghan
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press

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

The film veers into formulaic Disney Channel territory.

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

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

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

Whatever residual affection you may harbor for the Chipmunks will vanish completely if you fork over good money to see this cheaply made and aggravatingly stupid movie.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
12/14/07
Ethan Alter
Ethan Alter
Film Journal International

...disposable junk that'll probably be forgotten in a month.

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
12/14/07
Jim Lane
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review

I went into this movie with expectations that couldn't get much lower, but came out a fan of Alvin, Simon, and Theodore... and Dave, for making us care about them as much as he does.

Full Review Source: TheMovieChicks.com | comment Comment
12/14/07
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com

That it is harmless entertainment for the youngsters is fine, but don't confuse this with quality entertainment.

Full Review Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette | comment Comment
12/14/07
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

By the end of the movie, even the Chipmunks' youngest fans will find themselves wishing that Alvin and the boys would get back to where they once belonged: a tree.

Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
12/14/07
Stephen Cole
Stephen Cole
Globe and Mail

By far the funniest thing about this painful, if not quite insufferable, family comedy from Fox is its bold stance against merchandising and tie-in marketing.

Full Review Source: Film Blather | comment Comment
12/14/07
Eugene Novikov
Eugene Novikov
Film Blather

Kids at the preview screening ate it up but everyone else will probably be shouting 'ALVIN!!! SHUT THE F*** UP!'"

Full Review Source: Maxim | comment Comment
12/14/07
Pete Hammond
Pete Hammond
Maxim

I guess we should count it a Christmas miracle that the film is merely bad, rather than apocalyptically bad.

Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | comment Comment
12/14/07
Eric D. Snider
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com

Tiny furry nut-gathering mammals trying to cheer you up via song turns out to be surprisingly merry.

Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | comment Comment
12/13/07
MaryAnn Johanson
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher

Soul-numbing.

Full Review Source: Mark Reviews Movies | comment Comment
12/13/07
Mark Dujsik
Mark Dujsik
Mark Reviews Movies

It's telling when the biggest reaction from kids isn't from those high-pitched voices or the various goofy shenanigans, but instead comes from the sing-along theme song for Spongebob.

Full Review Source: Screen It! | comment Comment
12/13/07
Jim Judy
Jim Judy
Screen It!

It is hard to hate cute little talking chipmunks who love waffles, so maybe you can say I was annoyed.

Full Review Source: WaffleMovies.com | comment 1 Comment
12/13/07
Willie Waffle
Willie Waffle
WaffleMovies.com

preplanned pandering at its most callous.

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

" ...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

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
 
 
61 - 80 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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