Alvin and the Chipmunks: the Squeakquel

 

Since we last saw the Chipmunks: Alvin (Long), Simon (Gubler), and Theodore (McCartney) (click here for my review of "Alvin and the Chipmunks"), they have become superstars.  At the beginning of the film, their "father" Dave (Lee) is injured due to Alvin's antics.  With Dave in the hospital, in a full body cast, the boys are left in the care of his wheel chair bound Aunt Jackie (Kathryn Joosten)... but soon she is also incapacitated , and it is up to Dave's slacker cousin Toby (Levi) to watch the boys.

Prior to the accident Dave enrolled the boys in high school, where they struggle to fit in with their human classmates. Meanwhile, Ian (Cross) has lost everything and wants to get even with the boys.  Luckily for him, a Fed Ex package arrives containing a trio of female chipmunks, the Chipettes: Brittany (Applegate), Jeanette (Faris), and Eleanor (Poehler), who are aspiring singers.  Ian sees a chance for redemption, and begins training the girls for stardom... and he enrolls them in the same school as the boys.

To be honest, I wasn't interested in seeing this film.  I like the old Chipmunk cartoons, and have seen the various cartoon movies they were in, but I wasn't overly impressed with the first film...  However, the girl I'm mentoring wanted to see it, so I paid to see this film in theatres (thankfully it was only a matinee, so I didn't have to waste the $8 for a regular screening.

While I was not impressed, the theatre I went to was packed with kids who laughed throughout the film and seemed to have a great time.  I would prefer to see a Disney or Pixar film (fun for the whole family), but it had cute moments... and everyone left the theatre happy, so I guess that was enough.  The songs were great, but there were only a few of them.  The film would have benefitted from more musical numbers and less high school scenes.  The Chipettes were a nice addition... but I would have preferred to see a different villain, even though I do enjoy David Cross.

It wasn't good, kids will enjoy it, but I can't say the same for the adults in the crowd.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) 88 minutes
Rating: PG for some mild rude humor
Director: Betty Thomas
Starring: Zachary Levi as Toby
David Cross as Ian
Justin Long as Alvin
Matthew Gray Gubler as Simon
Jesse McCartney as Theodore
Christina Applegate as Brittany
Anna Faris as Jeanette
Amy Poehler as Eleanor
Jason Lee as Dave
Wendie Malick as Dr. Rubin