Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Road Chip – movie review

The film series about Alvin and the Chipmunks, which kicked off in 2007, now has a third sequel (the fourth movie in total). The good news is that you need not have seen any of the others to make sense of this one – in other words, it stands up on its own. Combining live action with animation, it is a road trip family caper comedy.

The Chipmunks – Alvin, Simon and Theodore – come to believe that their guardian Dave (Jason Lee) is planning to propose to his new, hot girlfriend, a doctor (Kimberly Williams-Paisley – Father of the Bride). They get it into their heads that once this happens their glory days with Dave are well and truly over because they will be booted out of the house. Furthermore, the doc has a teenage son (Josh Green) and he is making the Chipmunks lives miserable, so the quicker they can be rid of him the better. The Chipmunks are determined to prevent the proposal from happening and so with their anticipated soon-to-be less than sympathetic stepsibling in tow they hatch a plan. Before you know it though they have a major axe to grind with an air marshal (Tony Hale plays Agent Suggs), who will stop at nothing to track them down, state by US state. Much of the slapstick humour is at his expense (just think of the Roadrunner cartoons with Wile E. Coyote and imagine the air marshal being the Coyote, keeping on coming back for more punishment in the hope of getting his prey).

First up, if you happen to be a newbie, buckle up and get ready for some high pitched, rather excruciating voice talent for that is a hallmark of the Chipmunks. Once you overcome that though what you get is a pleasant enough, reasonably predictable kids’ adventure. Try though they do, the Chipmunks inevitably muck up and fall fowl of Dave, but he can never stay mad at them for too long and, of course, at the end of the day, all will be set right.

There are cute one-liners and sight gags aplenty, while music plays a significant role in proceedings and I, for one, enjoyed the score. The Chipmunks are again vocalised by Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney. Their female equivalents, the Chipettes, are given voice by Kaley Cuoco (who has replaced Amy Poehler from the previous two instalments), Anna Faris and Christina Applegate.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip should satisfy those in primary school looking for a few laughs. Rated PG, is scores a 6 out of 10.

Director: Walt Becker
Cast: Jason Lee, Tony Hale and the voices of Bella Thorne, Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting and Anna Faris
Release Date: 26 December 2015
Rating: PG

Alex First