Alvin and the Chipmunks

Rating – G

As the 1980s television series brought the characters of Alvin, Simon and Theodore to a whole generation of kids, so too, the new live action/CGI film Alvin and the Chipmunks is doing it for a new generation. Kids, parents and even grandparents, who remember the original animated music group, will find something to enjoy in this film. Young ones will love the cuteness of the three main characters (especially Theodore, voiced by pop idol Jesse McCartney) and adults can enjoy the renditions of classic songs like Funky Town and the parent-friendly jokes. The always likeable Jason Lee (My Name Is Earl, sans moustache) stars as Dave, a down-on-his-luck musician whose chance meeting with the three singing chipmunks sees his career reach extraordinary heights. Lee’s appealing on-screen presence makes him a hero kids will want to cheer for, and David Cross (Arrested Development) is gloriously over-the-top as a greedy record producer looking to exploit the talents of the chipmunks. While only loosely based on the original musical group and television show, Alvin and the Chipmunks is an ideal kids movie in that it’s kept to just 80 minutes, the plot is easy to follow, the jokes come thick and fast and there’s plenty of catchy songs for them to sing along to. There’s also some neat extras included, such as a special on the history of Alvin and the Chipmunks and the “Funk Mixer Set Top Game”, which allows you to remix some of the group’s hits.