MOVIE NEWS: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked
Let’s see here: it’s December, the temperature’s dropping outside, the malls are packed… that must mean a new Chipmunks movie is on its way! I caught the new flick in the series, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked, at a preview screening last weekend, and I’m here to share some thoughts.
This movie begins with the Chipmunks — Alvin, Simon, and Theodore — and the Chipettes — Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor — boarding a cruise ship to sail off to the International Music Awards. When Alvin’s antics (“ALVIN!!!”) send them flying overboard, they end up fending for themselves on a deserted island.
Will their manager and guardian, Dave, be able to find them? Will the island’s active volcano erupt? Will Alvin and Brittany work together for once to help the group, or continue their wacky rivalry? You’ll have to see this flick in theatres (or on DVD or TV someday…) to find out!
In the meantime, here are a few observations about the movie:
1) It’s musical. This will be no surprise to Chipmunks fans. Here, they sing songs by Lady Gaga, the Go-Gos, Lady Gaga (again), and Destiny’s Child, among others. Almost no major (or minor) event in the movie passes by without a song-and-dance number from the Chipmunks and Chipettes. Stranded on an island? Sing and dance. Bored? Sing and dance. Meeting a new person? Sing and dance!:
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVshrmm0AZ0]
2) It’s goofy. Even when you get past the idea of singing chipmunks taking a cruise ship to an international music awards show (which is pretty goofy already), you have the following things: 1) a character who spends the entire movie dressed up in a bird costume, 2) a character who gets bit by a spider and immediately starts taking risks and speaking in a French accent, and 3) a character who spends her days talking to sports balls with faces painted on them. Speaking of which…
3) It’s referential. The character talking to sports balls is a reference to a Tom Hanks movie called Castaway that few kids will have seen. There were lots of scenes, shots, and lines of dialogue like this. Some of them will seem fresh and new to younger viewers, but others just might seem strange and out of place.
Overall, I think this movie has enough action, humour, and music to appeal to the younger end of the OWL age group. If you liked the first two movies in the series, you will almost definitely like this one as well. If not, you might want to steer clear of this and check out Hugo or Arthur Christmas this holiday season instead.
Have a great weekend!
Craig, owlblog@owlkids.com
