Alvin And The Chipmunks
The Age
Friday January 4, 2008
Alvin and the Chipmunks
3/5 (91 mins) GYou can't help but instantly fall in love with any woodland critter who deeply resents the deprivations of having to live in the wild. Thus it is that we bond with Alvin who, in the opening scene of this absolutely adorable CG/live-action adaptation of the famous high-pitched chipmunk singing trio, blows a fuse over having to live in a "stupid, stupid tree".He and his musical brothers Simon and Theodore much prefer the comforts of urban life and, thanks to some friendly loggers, soon find themselves happily ensconced in the foyer of a skyscraper. Here they happen upon Dave Seville (Jason Lee), a hapless composer who is so down on his luck not even his friendship with slimy record company suit Ian (David Cross) can land him a deal.In addition to their talent for visual gags, Dave also discovers that these speaking rodents also sing in perfect harmony, a gift Ian is eager to exploit into a global hit machine.As with Stuart Little, Simon, Theodore and Alvin become surrogate sons to a childless adult who yearns for his own family. By the time he realises this, of course, the boys have already been adopted, packaged and merchandised to the hilt by the unscrupulous Ian, a role Cross (Arrested Development) clearly had a great time playing, judging by the rate with which he steals scenes from his digitally rendered charges.This is a near-perfect kids' movie designed to mark the 50th anniversary of the Chipmunks, a remarkable achievement that qualifies it as one of pop culture's most implausibly durable novelty acts.And be sure to stay for the end credits for the scroll of album covers tracking the group's evolution from 1958 to the present day. Take particular notice of how, in the pre-cute days before the advent of their popular TV cartoon series in 1961, the Chipmunks resembled large rats, a reference that pops up as a recurring gag throughout the film. -- JIM SCHEMBRI
© 2008 The Age
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