Susan Granger: “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” (20th Century Fox)
Banking on the success of the original, released in late 2007, this cartoon half-heartedly re-visits the singing-and-dancing rodents, blending CGI with live-action.
As the story begins, egotistical Alvin (voiced by Justin Long) and his chipmunk companions – smart Simon (voiced by Matthew Gray Gubler) and cuddly Theodore (voiced by Jesse McCartney) – are forced to leave their injured mentor/minder, Dave Seville (Jason Lee), who is confined to the hospital in a full-body cast, and move in with their Aunt Jackie (Kathryn Joosten, familiar as the nosy neighbor on “Desperate Housewives”). But when an unfortunate accident then incapacitates her, they’re left in the dubious care of Dave’s shy, slacker nephew Toby (Zachary Levi of NBC’s “Chuck”) and enrolled in the local high school, where they suffer bullying like swirlies and wedgies. But the principal, Dr. Rubin (Wendie Malick), is a fervent fan of the rodent rock stars; determined to win $25,000 to save the under-funded music program, she enters them in a talent contest.
At the same time, Alvin’s despicable and disgraced former manager, Ian Hawk (David Cross), has hooked up with The Chipettes, three girl chipmunks – brash Brittany (voiced by Christina Applegate), brainy Eleanor (voiced by Amy Poehler) and chubby Jeanette (voiced by Anna Faris) – whom he positions as rivals to the Chipmunks. But it’s only a matter of time before the compatible trios join forces and become friends. Besides, with their high-pitched, manufactured voices, they all sound alike.
Director Betty Thomas isn’t helped much by the simplistically predictable, slapstick-filled script by John Vitti, Jonathan Aibel, and Glenn Berger, based on characters created by Ross Bagdasarian. For those who don’t remember, Alvin’s adventures began in 1958 with a helium-inhaled recording that became an instant hit; and Jason Lee’s regrettable absence from most of the mindless mischief was reportedly due to scheduling conflicts.
On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” is a fractious, furball 5. Family-friendly and funky, it’s nevertheless cutesy charmless. Expect an inevitable Threequel.
