Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Tim Hill

Writers (WGA):

Jon Vitti (screenplay) and
Will McRobb (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

14 December 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Fantasy | Music

Tagline:

Here comes trouble.

Plot:

A struggling songwriter named Dave Seville finds success when he comes across a trio of singing chipmunks: mischievous leader Alvin, brainy Simon, and chubby, impressionable Theodore.

Plot Keywords:

Chipmunk | Songwriter | Lip Synching | Security Guard | Electric Guitar

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Jason Lee	...	Dave
David Cross	...	Ian
Cameron Richardson	...	Claire
Jane Lynch	...	Gail
Justin Long	...	Alvin (voice)
Matthew Gray Gubler	...	Simon (voice)
Jesse McCartney	...	Theodore (voice)
Allison Karman	...	Female Intern #1
Tiara Parker	...	Female Intern #2
Kira Verrastro	...	Female Intern #3
Veronica Alicino	...	Amy
Beth Riesgraf	...	Mother in Store
Adriane Lenox	...	Vet
Don Tiffany	...	Engineer
Lorne Green	...	Director

MPAA:

Rated PG for some mild rude humor.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #43659) | Ireland:G | Singapore:PG | South Korea:All | Malaysia:U | UK:U | Switzerland:0 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:0 (canton of Vaud) | Germany:o.Al. | Portugal:M/4 | Argentina:Atp | Philippines:G (MTRCB) | Sweden:Btl | New Zealand:G | Australia:G | Brazil:Livre | Finland:K-3 | Denmark:A | Norway:A | Canada:G (all jurisdictions) | Hong Kong:I | France:U | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Fox 2000 Pictures

Trivia:

Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Tim Allen and John Travolta were all offered and declined the role of Dave. Jason Lee states that he was so excited the producers offered him a role they originally offered one of his biggest influences, Bill Murray, that he did back flips.

Goofs:

Continuity: The "coloring" that the chipmunks did on Dave's presentation posters depicted Simon with glasses. But the drawings were done before it was discovered that he needed glasses.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Alvin (singing voice), Simon (singing voice), Theodore (singing voice): [a capella] Where is the moment we needed the most/You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost/They tell me your blue skies fade to gray/They tell me your passion's gone away/And I don't need no carryin' on/Cause you had a bad day/You're taking one down/You sing a sad song just to turn it around/You say you don't know/You tell me don't lie/You work at a smile and you go for a ride/You had a bad day/You've seen what you like/And how does it feel for one more time/You had a bad day/You had a bad day/
Alvin: [pushing the last of the acorns into the tree] It's going, It's going.
[gets sucked in and falls out with all of the acorns]
Simon: And it's gone.
Alvin: [from inside the tree] Whatever!
Theodore: Maybe we should take a break.
[an acorn hits him on the head]
Theodore: Ouch!
Alvin: That's it! I can't take this anymore! I can't! I give up! I'm sick of struggling for survival! Competing with gophers and earthworms, and that loser sparrow who always takes my nuts! And I'm especially sick of this stupid, stupid...*tree!*
[...]

Movie Connections:

References The Karate Kid (1984)

Soundtrack:

Aloha Oe

Cute, But Not Cute Enough

I would say that this film is good, that's it, nothing more. It follows the story of Alvin, Theodore, and Simon, which has been around for quite a while. When I started watching this movie, I immediately assumed it was going to be really good. I was sort of disappointed with what kind of film it turned out to be. Yes, of course kids would love this film and maybe some adults would like it, because it was a cute film... but, I would say it's definitely and never should be called great. There were a few laughs and I was intrigued, but overall I think there were a lot of things that could be changed, like how at the start of the film no one seems to notice the chipmunks running across the building floor and hopping into the muffin basket, I mean they're small but not THAT small, and plenty of other things I could tell as well, but I would rather not have to make this a spoiler comment. Well, show this to your kids because they'll laugh their butts off, but as for adults and teenagers I would say to expect anywhere from you liking this movie as the kiddie film it is, to thinking it was just okay and being mildly entertained.