Film Reviews

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked

• Rating:
• Director: Mike Mitchell
• Starring: Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Anna Faris
• Details: US / 87 mins (G)

After a hugely successful first two movies, the chipmunks are back and wackier than ever. But Instead of singing, there’s more of focus on in-jokes and an abundance pop-culture references this time out. The voices are still the cinematic equivalent of a Kian Egan vocal solo and continue to grate, but this is ultimately inoffensive pap that will be an obligatory DVD purchase for most families with young offspring. In this frolic-filled threequel the Chipmunks and the (anatomically ambiguous) Chipettes are set to go on a luxury cruise, but because they’re oh-so-mischievous, sneak off for a bit of hang-gliding and get swept away to a desert island. While Dave (a pained looking Lee returning) tries to figure out a way to save them, they meet up with Zoe (Saturday Night Live regular Slate) who, she claims, crash-landed on the island a decade ago and has gone a bit Sinead O'Conner - in a not-so-subtle nod to Cast Away. Yes, there are balls of a sporting nature with faces drawn on. It was a wise move curtailing the musical numbers. Granted, there's still a dance off and a couple of annoying tunes, but for the most part they're mercifully out of the way early doors. It's pretty ridiculous hiring well know actors to voice characters and then just speed up their voices to an almost neutered level, because the kids don't care and those going for nostalgic reasons wont either. I suppose they need to roll out someone for the press stuff. In fairness this sequel is at least executed with adults more in mind than the previous films and is ultimately less of an endurance test than this year's other pillaged childhood memory movie, The Smurfs. That doesn't make it any more worth your time unless the kids are insisting upon it. Both Hugo and Puss in Boots are far more enjoyable for adults and definitely a better option if perturbed with cinematic options over the holidays. That said, if the kids insist on seeing this, there's enough here to give you the odd chuckle.

Review by Mike Sheridan