Alvin and the Chipmunks DVD Review

Alvin and the Chipmunks have entertained generations of fans and even won four Grammys! Should you check out the pint-size performers now that their motion picture debut this is out on DVD? Kidzworld reviews Alvin, Simon, and Theodore's big screen adventure.

The Forest from the Trees

Alvin (Justin Long), Simon (Matthew Gray Gubler), and Theodore (Jesse McCartney) are talking chipmunks who love to sing! When the tree they live in is chopped down and shipped to the city for Christmas, the Chipmunks find themselves in the lobby of Jett Records. Songwriter Dave Seville (Jason Lee) has just lost his hit-making touch and when he rushes out of a particularly bad meeting, the boys hitch a ride to his house in a basket of muffins.

Singing for Their Supper

Dave isn't so excited about sharing his house with three rodents, even if they can talk, but he knows he has found the next big thing when he hears the Chipmunks sing and offers to let them stay (and eat all the toaster waffles they want) if they'll perform his songs. While working on Dave's new tracks, Alvin, Simon and Theodore get Dave fired at work, trash his house, and totally ruin his chances with ex-girlfriend Claire (Cameron Richardson). Then, when Dave finally takes them to perform for Jett Records Executive Ian Hawk (David Cross), the Chipmunks are silenced by stage-fright. Knowing they let Dave down, the boys sneak out to Hawk's house to show him what they can really do.

Lifestyles of the Rich & Miserable

Soon Alvin and the Chipmunks are superstars and topping the Billboard Hot 100. At a big release party, greedy Ian (now Uncle Ian to the chipmunks) tells Alvin that Dave is holding them back from living a life of fame and fortune, and that Dave calls them rats behind their back. Hurt and confused after Theodore finds evidence that Dave doesn't want them around, the boys move into Uncle Ian's mansion and get caught up in their own superstardom. Eventually, constant touring and endless recording has completely exhausted the Chipmunks. Alvin, Simon, and Theodore can't even sing or stay awake and start to miss their simpler life with Dave. Slowly Dave realizes that he cares about the Chipmunks and misses them too. Can he, with a little help from Claire, rescue the boys from Uncle Ian and save their family before the Chipmunks depart on a year-long world tour? You’ll have to watch to find out!

DVD Features

The Alvin and the Chipmunks DVD release comes in both full screen and widescreen format with English 5.1 Dolby. It's also packed with special features like Chip-Chip-Hooray! Chipmunk History featurette, a musical featurette called Hitting the Harmony, and a sneak peek at Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who. The Blu-ray Disc version also features several high-definition trailers!

Bottom Line

The success of the Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise has always been about the music, and this film is no different. The flick is packed full of classic Chipmunks songs (plus a lot of new ones) and the CGI Chipmunks harmonize perfectly and show off sweet dance moves while blending into the live action almost seamlessly. The storyline is predictable at best, and other than the Chipmunks, the performances aren’t spectacular (Jason Lee’s version of Dave Seville’s “Alviiiiiin” is pretty lame), but there’s just something about these guys and their antics that manage to make you laugh. The funky beats will have you dancing in your seats and your 'rents should find enough humor to reminisce about their own Chipmunk memories with a smile.

Alvin and the Chipmunks DVD Rating:

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