| Audience: | Kindergarten - 3rd Grade |
| MPAA Rating: | Rated PG for some mild rude humor. |
| Profanity: | Some mild language |
| Nudity/Sex: | None |
| Alcohol/Drugs: | Champagne, wine coolers, coffee jitters |
| Violence/Scariness: | Comic peril and violence |
| Diversity Issues: | None |
| Movie Release Date: | December 14, 2007 |
| DVD Release Date: | April 7, 2008 |
Novelty songwriter Ross Bagdasarian noticed that speeding up the audio recordings creatd a high-pitched sound in 1958, and used that technique in his song "The Witch Doctor." It was a hit. And so, he created the singing chipmunks, Simon, Theodore, and AAAAAlvin. Their record-breaking Christmas song sold four and a half million records in seven weeks -- a record not broken until the Beatles -- and won two Grammy awards. The high pitch of the voices was the novelty, but what made the record a hit was the relationship between Bagdasarian, who chose the stage name Dave Seville after the Spanish town he had been stationed in during the second World War, and the chipmunks, scholarly Simon, cheery Theodore, and especially mischievous Alvin. It became a franchise, with more records, an animated television series, product endorsements, and "appearances" with real-life rock stars. What was left? A feature-length movie, inspired by the origin story. But any charm in the original idea has been diluted and all that remains is packaging. It is 9/10 product placement, 1/10 filler.
Dave (Jason Lee, looking embarrassed to be in this film) is an unsuccessful song-writer whose depressing new song is turned down by his college friend Ian (David Cross, who has some gusto), now an executive at a recording company so cushy his office has an omelet bar. Ian tells him he needs something new. The chipmunks, inadvertently captured when their tree is cut down for an office Christmas decoration, go home with Dave and happily settle into his kitchen ("This must be where he stores his food for the winter!") The little rascals make a mess and cause him to lose his job by drawing on his presentation, but they harmonize like a barbershop quartet (minus one) on helium, and the next thing you know, Dave has found that new thing and "Uncle Ian" is selling the Chipmunks six different ways from Sunday.
It becomes a little difficult to distinguish exploitive "Uncle Ian" from Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. and the other folks trying very hard to keep this fragile idea alive and making money. The big difference is that Uncle Ian wears out the Chipmunks and this movie wears out its welcome. What is the point of hiring voice talent like Justin Long (of the Mac commercials and Live Free or Die Hard
Parents should know that this film has some crude humor and potty jokes. It includes some schoolyard language ("move your butt," "sucks") and suggestive song lyrics. Characters drink champagne and get some caffeine jitters from mocha drinks. The themes of the movie include separation from parents and parent figures and there is a song (intended to be comic) about the "abyss of death."
Families who see this film should talk about what made the chipmunks feel more connected to Dave than to "Uncle Ian." How can rules show kids they are loved?
Families who enjoy this film will also enjoy cartoons about the chipmunk trio like The Chipmunk Adventure
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Hi, Movie Mum. I came across some minor mistakes in your review.
In the first paragraph, you wrote 'especially mischevious Alvin'. I think the correct spelling for 'mischevious' is actually 'mischievous'.
In the same paragraph, you also wrote 'origin story'. Isn't it supposed to be 'original story'?
I would also like to ask for opinion regarding the chipmunks. When I was young, I used to love the chipmunks a lot, especially their cute voice. But now that I'm an adult, I actually find their voices extremely annoying! And I didn't think the movie was funny at the slightest bit. Do you feel the same way as well?
Thanks.
Thanks again, Casey! I have corrected the spelling. But "origin story" is correct -- it is a term that is used for movies (or comic books or other media) like this one that take established characters and provide the "how they got where they are" background.
And as you can tell from my review, I did not think it was funny, either. But a lot of people disagreed with us. It did very well at the box office and I expect there will be a sequel.
I haven't seen this movie, but I heard that at the end one of the "bad guys" makes an extremely inappropriate comment in Spanish. Could you confirm or disprove this accusation?
I do not speak Spanish, Joanne, but I have not heard anything about any inappropriate comment in Spanish anywhere in the movie other than a "Madre de Dios" (Mother of God) exclamation.
Thanks for checking into that. That is much more tame than what I had heard! I'm still not going to run out and rent the movie. Thanks for the review.
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