Film Review: Alvin and the Chipmunks squeaky but not clean

15 "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel"

Richard Widmark is dead, but his spirit improbably lives on in "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel," in which the presence of the allegedly adorable harmonizing rodents causes an old lady in a wheelchair to roll down a steep flight of stairs, as if Alvin, Simon and Theodore were paying homage to Tommy Udo, the maniacal killer played by Widmark in the film-noir classic "Kiss of Death."

Alvin entertains some new friends at school in the latest installment in the Chipmunks franchise.20th Century Fox

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel

"Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" brings back our favorite furry brothers, Alvin, Simon and Theodore. Because of a freak accident involving Alvin and Dave ...

Rating: PG for some mild rude humor

Length: 88 minutes

Released: December 23, 2009 Nationwide

Cast: Zachary Levi, David Cross, Jason Lee, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler

Director: Betty Thomas

Writer: Jon Vitti, Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger

More info and showtimes »

This "comic" early scene comes only moments after the 'munks have put their human sponsor, Dave Seville (Jason Lee), into traction by smashing him with a piece of stage scenery in front of thousands of shrieking fans during their rock concert cover of the Kinks' "You Really Got Me." At this point, mature moviegoers may be wondering whether they're watching a "Chipmunks" sequel or a 1970s'-style nature-gone- wild horror movie, like "Night of the Lepus." Perhaps what this "Squeakquel" requires isn't a review but pest control.

Released during the 2007 Christmas season, "Alvin and the Chipmunks" -- a live-action film with computer-animated chipmunks -- earned close to $220 million at the U.S. box office, making it probably the most successful incarnation ever of the much-revived high-pitched pop-music novelty act introduced in 1958 by Ross Bagdasarian. A sequel was inevitable; also inevitable, sadly, was the laziness of the screenwriters, who probably were paid a lot of money to pretend they believe tired urban slang spoken in a helium voice is comedy gold. "Holla!" cries Alvin (voiced by Justin Long), when he sees a bag of his favorite snack food. "The Cheez Balls are in the hizouse!"

Was Jason Lee too busy to spend much time on the movie? Did he want too much money? Are the producers trying to write him out of the series in favor of cheaper, lesser-known actors? Whatever the reason, he's sent to the hospital early in the film, putting the Chipmunks in the care of Dave's irresponsible, unemployed, videogame- obsessed cousin, Toby (an unfunny Zachary Levi), who does his weak best to help the Chipmunks "live a normal childhood" by attending junior high school. Kids in the audience will be able to identify with the critters' scary first days in the strange classroom environment, at least until the Chipmunks' babe-magnet cuteness makes them the targets of jealous jocks.

Directed by Betty Thomas ("The Brady Bunch Movie"), the film lurches to life with the arrival of a rival female trio of chipmunk vocalists, the Chipettes (voiced by Amy Poehler, Anna Faris and Christina Applegate), pushed into stardom by the Chipmunks' old nemesis, sleazy manager Ian Hawke (David Cross). The crowd goes wild when the Chipettes perform a finger-snapping, neck-bobbing cover of Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," but soon both sets of musical rodents realize that stardom isn't as important as friendship. If you're wondering whether even a Chipmunks film could be so unimaginative as to end with a cast rendition of "We Are Family," the answer is: Yes.

— John Beifuss: 529-2394

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