A big surprise of this film is that it does nearly everything just right. Good story (just what is needed and nothing more), great casting, and a wealth of fun, catchy chipmunk tunes. "Alvin and the Chipmunks" engages adult audiences as well as the kids who just can't get enough of those squeaky voices.
The film separates itself from other kid movies through its 'intangibles'...simple things from the choice of Dave's home (with the clever address of '1958', the year which started it all) to the facetious opening scene with the three chipmunks "angering a tree" after they "had a bad day".
Jason Lee is an outstanding casting choice for Dave Seville, the original Chipmunks guardian/songwriter (and stage-persona of Ross Bagdasarian himself). As Dave, Lee keeps a plausible rapport with the chipmunks, reminiscent of Joel's rapport with the machine creatures of "Mystery Science Theater 3000", only with the added ability to warm to the chipmunks' charm as a reluctant father might.
"Chipmunks" sticks to the ageless themes of the importance of heeding one's parents and of doing what's wise rather than just what feels good at the time. Dave and his Music Producer Ian Hawke (David Cross) both battle for the chipmunks' attention as symbols of good and bad, respectively.
Another big plus for the film are the chipmunks themselves. Alvin, Simon, and Theodore are given greater character distinction and development in this film than in any other Chipmunks production. The CGI art was balanced enough to convey their moods & expressions but without pervading too much of the rest of the real-world movie.
The only disappointments were the inevitable ABC (Annoying, Base, Cliché) kid-movie shticks (e.g., rear end/wedgie references, gas moments, etc.), of which the film has a few early infractions but nothing quite able to dispel the chipmunks' puerile charms or to send adults walking out with rolling eyes.
Outweighing this are the fun, pathos, and music of a classic trio reborn. All in all, young and old alike will all come out wanting talking chipmunk friends of their own.
The film separates itself from other kid movies through its 'intangibles'...simple things from the choice of Dave's home (with the clever address of '1958', the year which started it all) to the facetious opening scene with the three chipmunks "angering a tree" after they "had a bad day".
Jason Lee is an outstanding casting choice for Dave Seville, the original Chipmunks guardian/songwriter (and stage-persona of Ross Bagdasarian himself). As Dave, Lee keeps a plausible rapport with the chipmunks, reminiscent of Joel's rapport with the machine creatures of "Mystery Science Theater 3000", only with the added ability to warm to the chipmunks' charm as a reluctant father might.
"Chipmunks" sticks to the ageless themes of the importance of heeding one's parents and of doing what's wise rather than just what feels good at the time. Dave and his Music Producer Ian Hawke (David Cross) both battle for the chipmunks' attention as symbols of good and bad, respectively.
Another big plus for the film are the chipmunks themselves. Alvin, Simon, and Theodore are given greater character distinction and development in this film than in any other Chipmunks production. The CGI art was balanced enough to convey their moods & expressions but without pervading too much of the rest of the real-world movie.
The only disappointments were the inevitable ABC (Annoying, Base, Cliché) kid-movie shticks (e.g., rear end/wedgie references, gas moments, etc.), of which the film has a few early infractions but nothing quite able to dispel the chipmunks' puerile charms or to send adults walking out with rolling eyes.
Outweighing this are the fun, pathos, and music of a classic trio reborn. All in all, young and old alike will all come out wanting talking chipmunk friends of their own.