Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel -- Cute But An Example of More Not Being Better

Three chipmunks are good. They were quite successful in 2007 and launched a renewal of plush chipmunk sales around the world.  Why not add some female love-interest to sweeten the pot in the sequel?  In theory, it should have been double the fun.  In reality, it was only cute. My rating:  $5.00 (1.-10.).

 

Very quickly in the sequel, Dave (Jason Lee) is laid up with severe injuries after rebellious son, Alvin, gets carried away with himself at a Paris concert.  Dave sends them home to be supervised and entered in school by Aunt Jackie (70 year-old Kathryn Joosten -- Mrs. McCluskey in "Desperate Housewives") while he recovers in Paris.  Just to refresh your memory:  Justin Long voices Alvin, Matthew Gray Gubler (Spencer Reid on "Criminal Minds") voices Simon, and Jesse McCartney voices Theodore.   

 

The three furry rascals don't make it out of the airport back in the States before Aunt Jackie, who shows up in a wheelchair, takes a ride down a couple of flights of stairs and collides with a golf-cart shuttle.  It isn't the mischievous Alvin, this time, who causes the catastrophe, it's cousin Toby Seville played by cutie Zachary Levi (starred in TV's "Chuck" since 2007).  Levi's task in "The Squeakquel" is to play the stereotypical ne'er-do-well whose only talent is online competitive gaming.  His emotional trauma as the picked on geek in high school supposedly left him unable to make something of himself.  Ho-hum, he does what he can with this role.

 

Toby does make sure the 'kids' get enrolled in high school.  The principal, Dr. Rubin (Wendie Malick) is a closet Chipmunk fan -- tattoo and everything.  She convinces the chipmunks to sing in a local competition among schools vying for $25,000. in order to save the school music department.  The boys agree.  Meanwhile, the boys have other distractions as they adapt to the social structure in school.  Alvin, as usual, has an easier time than his quieter brothers do. 

 

Skipping to a change in storyline, a package drops off the mail cart outside Jett records -- the Chipmunks' recording label.  Out pop three female chipmunks looking for Ian (David Cross), the gross guy who tried to exploit our little heroes in the first movie.  They believe he will make them successful as singers like he did for the Chipmunks.  Obviously, they missed Ian's fall from grace in the tabloids.  Never fear, Ian is living in the basement of Jett Records just waiting for his second chance.  Can you guess where this is going?  The three girls are Eleanor (Amy Poehler), Jeanette (Anna Faris), and Brittany (Christina Applegate) -- not that you can tell one chipmunk voice from another.

 

Since no one will 'take a call' from the fallen Ian, his great idea is to pit the girls against the guys in high school.  He brainwashes them first against the boys.  Don't worry, it doesn't last long.  Each chipmunk has his/her perfect mate. 

 

The male chipmunks have little singing time this movie.  The girls get more time to be cute while singing and dancing like pop stars.  I believe the most memorable song is Beyonce's 'Put A Ring on It'.  The girl voices tended to blend a little too much for my liking making each song rather generic.  Without the music itself being popular, I'm not sure I'd have known what they were saying.

 

Jon Vitti developed the original Chipmunk story and wrote the screenplay with Will McRobb and Chris Vicardi.  This time, Vitti pairs (or was made to pair) with Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger who wrote "Aliens Vs. Monsters" and "Kung Fu Panda" together.  This is another example of more not being better.  Original director, Tim Hill, may have added more irreverence from his time doing "Spongebob Squarepants".  Current director, Betty Thomas, has had modest comedic success directing the likes of "The Brady Bunch Movie", the 1998 "Dr. Dolittle" and "John Tucker Must Die". 

 

Hey, the idea of cutie female chipmunks sounds like a great idea for a sequel -- even now.  The problem is that it was overkill on chipmunk pandemonium.  The human element with Ian and Toby but without Dave didn't cut it, either.  Toby gets some tepid redemption at the end.  Ian needs to be put out to pasture. I don't see this version being as popular as the original. 

 

The run time is about 90 minutes and it's rated 'PG'.  I guess I could say it's a safe bet for families with small children. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMENTS ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here; comments do not reflect the views of The Virginian-Pilot or its websites. Users must follow agreed-upon rules: Be civil, be clean, be on topic; don't attack private individuals, other users or classes of people. Read the full rules here.
- Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the report violation link below it.