MAIN Pop Culture Movies Alvin and the Chipmunks

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Christmas time brings fond childhood memories back for me. Singing the Christmas song by the Chipmunks is one of them. What could be better, besides Santa of course, than to see these furry little creatures sing that song in a live action movie?!

Alvin, Simon, and Theodore lose their home when their tree is cut down. In a very round about way, they make their way into the home of Dave Seville (Jason Lee) without him knowing it. Their forraging gives them away and when Dave discovers he has unwanted guests he quickly puts them outside.

The trio win Dave over with an acapella seranade and he hurries them inside to hear more. Dave needed a new idea for his music career otherwise he was done for and these little guys were it! They made an agreement, after some negotiation, that gave the chipmunks a home and Dave a chance to prove he wasn't washed up in the music business after all.

When Dave originally brings his new singing sensation to his producer friend Ian (David Cross), who had already told Dave he should give up writing songs no one will ever sing, the chipmunks have stage fright and Dave looks like a lunatic who thinks chipmunks can sing.

After causing some trouble in Dave's life, the trio decide to make things right. They travel all by themselves to Ian's house and sing the song Dave wrote. Completely floored and seeing nothing but dollar signs, Ian runs with it and has the song on the radio in record time! Now Dave is Ian's new best bud and he begins to spoil the chipmunks rotten, even insisting they call him "Uncle Ian."

Alvin, Simon, and Theodore love all the attention and gifts that being famous brings. Of course being just little children they don't know better and Dave tries to protect them from the clutches of greedy Uncle Ian. Do they finally realize that Dave is right or are they sucked in by the all the wonderful treats and toys, not to mention lack of rules or supervision, Uncle Ian is more than happy to trick them with?

Watch and enjoy as eventually the chipmunks are rescued and live happily ever after with Dave as one big happy family.

Whatever happenes to the great Uncle Ian? He ends up with a huge problem when Alvin, Simon, and Theodore all bail on the rest of the tour leaving him in the lurch. No big deal. He will just get new chipmunks, right? Wrong.

The graphics were stunning and how much fun it was to take a trip down memory lane with the echoing, "Alviiiin!" The music is cool and the way the munks got down with the funk was amazing! The kids loved the way they try to help Dave win Claire's (Cameron Richardson) heart back. Never mind all the cool toys Uncle Ian bought for them.

Elsewhere on the Web:

Alvin and the Chipmunks

New York Times Review Alvin and the Chipmunks

About the Author
Katrina Cramer-Diaz is one of Chiff.com's Toy Reviewers. She is a working mom with four kids and lots of additional experience in kids' movies and entertainment!