Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked – A 20th Century Fox Release

http://www.munkyourself.com/us/

DVD Release Date: March 27th, 2012

Rated G

Running time: 87 minutes

Mike Mitchell (dir.)

Jonathan Aibel (writer)

Glenn Berger (writer)

Based on the classic characters created by Ross Bagdasarian

Mark Mothersbaugh (music)

Jason Lee as Dave

David Cross as Ian

Jenny Slate as Zoe

Justin Long as Alvin (voice)

Our reviews below:

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Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked DVD Review By John C.

** (out of 4)

This time around, the three singing chipmunks named Alvin, Simon and Theodore (voices of Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney) are on a cruise ship and find themselves separated from Dave (Jason Lee) when they get stranded on a desert island.  Also along for the ride are their three female chipmunk counterparts, Brittany, Jeanette and Eleanor (voices of Christina Applegate, Anna Faris and Amy Poehler).  On the island, they meet a very annoying woman named Zoe (Jenny Slate) and as usual, scheming record producer Uncle Ian (David Cross) is trying to kidnap all six of the singing chipmunks as he parades around in a pelican suit.

I was in the minority that actually liked the first Alvin and the Chipmunks back in 2007, but the 2009 Squeakquel was just boring and strictly for kids.  The series continues going downhill with Chipwrcked, a sometimes annoying movie that unfortunately isn’t even saved by the CGI of the always cute singing chipmunks.  When it comes to the humans, Jason Lee and David Cross look embarrassed to even be in this movie, and Jenny Slate does nothing but overact.  Little kids will be amused by Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked and the singing chipmunks are still cute, but adults will likely be more bored and annoyed than entertained.

The Blu-ray includes extended scenes, a couple of featurettes and several music-themed bonus features.

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Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked DVD Review By Erin V.  

** (out of 4)

I didn’t mind the first Chipmunks movie in 2007, in fact, I quite liked it.  I thought it was fun, sweet, and while being geared for the kids in the audience, had just the right mix of entertainment for those bringing them as well.  All of these elements seemed lost in the ‘Squeakquel’, and again are all but nonexistent here.

In this instalment, Dave (Jason Lee) takes the three chipmunks (and three chipettes, which were introduced in the second film), on a cruise, but Alvin stirs up all kinds of trouble onboard.  Then, while playing with a kite – which is giant to them – the six chipmunks accidentally find themselves flying off of the ship, and no sooner land on a seemingly deserted island.  A lot of the characters get kind of annoying as the film goes along, especially a woman (Jenny Slate) they find on the island.  Predictably, the film is about how Dave has to try to find the chipmunks, and they have to try to find a way back.

What this is, is a kiddie version of a treasure island/stranded type movie.  I wanted to like it, but by part way through, I found myself half-wishing that this movie had found itself buried on a deserted island – at least there, the reflective disc could be of some use (for signalling), to whoever was stranded with the copy of Chipwrecked.  Still, it will be fun for the younger members of the audience, but I’d sooner let them watch the first film instead.

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Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked DVD Review By Nicole

** (out of 4)

The first Alvin and the Chipmunks movie was fun.  The second one was bad, but still mildly amusing.  Chipwrecked, on the other hand, is just annoying.  When the Chipmunks and Chipettes go on a cruise, their mischief leaves them stranded on a desert island.  Meanwhile, Dave (Jason Lee) is looking for them, Uncle Ian (David Cross) is trying to steal them back while wearing a pelican suit, and a crazy woman (Jenny Slate) kidnaps them in an attempt to steal some hidden treasure.

Jenny Slate is the most annoying part, reminiscent of “entertainment” on 24-hour kids channels.  And while this may be irrelevant,  why does Alvin refer to a meerkat as a honey badger?  While Chipwrecked is harmless for kids as a babysitter, parents should stick to the original Chipmunks movie for viewing by the entire family.

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Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked DVD Review By Maureen

** (out of 4)

Oh to be six years old again and easily amused.  Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked delivers lots of silly fun and lots of high-pitched songs by those perpetually cute Chipmunks and Chipettes.  Great if you don’t expect much more from an 87 minute DVD.  Chipwrecked is the third movie in the Chipmunks franchise.  This time the Chipmunks, Alvin (Justin Long), Simon (Matthew Gray Gubler), Theodore (Jesse McCartney) and the Chipettes (Amy Poehler, Anna Faris and Christina Applegate) are on a cruise ship with their Dad, Dave (Jason Lee).  It turns out that their Uncle Ian (David Cross) is reduced to working as a costumed mascot on the ship.  It doesn’t take long before Alvin’s antics get the furry siblings floating away from the ship and stranded on a deserted island.  It’s up to Dad Dave and Uncle Ian to orchestrate a rescue.

There’s not much can be said about Chipwrecked.  I enjoyed the original Alvin and the Chipmunks movie and there is something inherently appealing about the furry little singers.  Chipwrecked felt annoying, but then again, I’m a grown up and no longer that easily amused.  I can see the appeal for kids.  If you have kids who like the Chipmunks, by all means let them watch Chipwrecked on DVD.  If they haven’t seen the original movie, show them that one as well.

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Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked DVD Review By Tony

** (out of 4)

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked is the latest release featuring Dave (Jason Lee), Alvin, Simon, Theodore and the three Squeakquel Chipettes. Their nemesis Ian (David Cross) is back in a pelican suit from their cruise ship. A silly chain of events leaves them all marooned on a desert island where castaway Zoe (Jenny Slate) has spent years looking for buried treasure and talking to her ball collection. They all need to escape before a volcano destroys the island.

The process of “chipmunking” (low speed recording, high speed playback) goes back to the novelty songs of Dave Seville (Ross Bagdasarian) of the late 1950s. Over the course of a feature film, the chipmunk voices (Justin Long, et al) are grating to adult ears, but kids won’t mind at all. Moreover, despite decent CGI animation blended with live action, and each chipmunk given a distinct character arc of sorts, this one is strictly for kids, since the rest of us have seen all this tired shtik done better many times before.

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Consensus: Although the singing chipmunks are still inherently cute, those above a young age are sure to find the tired threequel Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked more boring than entertaining.  ** (Out of 4)