Click Here For Our Interview with Jason Lee

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Review By: Dan Deevy
DanDeevy@TheCinemaSource.com

When I first heard that they were making a live action version of Alvin and The Chipmunks and were planning on it being this big holiday event for 2007, I thought it was the absolute worst idea ever! I mean, how can you possibly make a cartoon that, let’s be honest about it, never really made any actual sense, work as a film without betraying the original idea behind it all? And even if they could, there is no way Chipmunk Rock Stars would make sense in front of an actual live human audience. In the cartoon Alvin, Simon and Theodore always managed to be whatever size they needed to be to make certain situations work. When they had to be big enough to open a door, they were; but when they had to leap off the sidewalk just to reach the street they were able to do that too. You couldn’t mess with the presentation of the characters like that in CGI form. Plus… anyone remember the live action version of Garfield? Need I say more?

As it turns out, yes. I definitely do need to say more because I was completely wrong!!! This was The Best Family Movie of the Holiday Season!!! I absolutely Loved It!!!

Some how they managed to take everything that was wonderful about the cartoon and translate that into the real world. The CGI work on the Chipmunks is truly extraordinary. The emotions that these little computer generated creatures emote is staggering. I only wish some of the actors working in Hollywood today could pull at your heart strings as touchingly and effectively as they did. I literally had to stop myself from tearing up at some points.

The story is a very basic coming together of a new family tale. The Chipmunks end up on the doorstep of a less than successful songwriter named Dave Seville played by My Name is Earl star, Jason Lee and when he discovers that they can not only talk, but also sing beautifully, Dave is finally able to get that record deal he’s been working towards his whole life. Of course there are bumps in the road, not the least of which is the devilishly sinister record exec wonderfully played by David Cross who tries to steal the Chipmunks affections and work them into the ground! But in spite of all the obstacles they face, they of course manage to come out on top and end up together as a true family.

In the end that’s what this movie is really all about. It’s about what it really means to be a family and it is so wonderfully told that by the end you are smiling from ear to ear and are already planning to buy the DVD!

There are so few films out there that are actually appropriate for the whole family, where everyone is equally entertained. This is without ...