Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

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 | Pineapple | Champagne | Wine

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

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 Vaud) | Switzerland:0 (canton of Geneva) | Germany:o.Al. | Portugal:M/4 | Argentina:Atp | Philippines:G (MTRCB) | Sweden:Btl | New Zealand:G | Australia:G | Brazil:Livre | Finland:K-3 | Norway:A | Denmark: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:

The phrase the Japanese Alvin doll says ("Konbanwa. Watashi wa Alvin desu") translates to "Good evening. I am Alvin." The Spanish doll ("Hola! Me llamo Alvin y yo quierro un hula hoop!") says "Hello! My name is Alvin and I want a hula hoop!"

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): During the premiere party Simon says if he continues to eat he will go into insulin shock. Insulin shock occurs when a diabetic does not eat for an extended period of time. Given that there is never any other indication that Simon is diabetic, it's possible that he said it simply because it "sounds cool", without really understanding what he was saying.

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:

Spoofs Team America: World Police (2004)

Soundtrack:

Joy to the World

Harmless fun for a young audience.

I grew up watching the 80's version of the chipmunks, so when I first saw the trailer to this predictable but cute live-action update, I was somewhat happy. Although I knew that the humor would be targeted at a crowd under 10 years old, I still wanted to see it, especially since the 1980's animated film THE CHIPMUNK ADVENTURE is still one of my all-time favorite animated films.

THE PROS: Well I went and saw it, and my expectations were met. It was more for younger kids, but it was throughly enjoyable. It was good to hear the Chipmunks sing their classic Christmas song, there were plenty of funny (but not hilarious) moments, and the Chipmunks themselves were well-animated and undeniably adorable (particularly Theodore).

THE CONS: The story is predictable (although typical for most kid's films nowadays). Jason Lee is badly miscast as the Chipmunks' long-suffering songwriter and adopted father, David Seville. Also the "romance" between Dave and his neighbor is too clichéd. We don't need some sort of love story in every single film in my opinion.

Overall, there is nothing brilliant about this film, but it's still fun. It ought to please young children and their parents.

BOTTOM LINE: It's no Citizen Kane, but it's more fun than a Hula Hoop.