What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that while this movie is mostly OK for
little kids, there's some innuendo and sassy language that
children might mimic. Alvin in particular says mildly
off-putting remarks like "You're hot" to Dave's date or "She
wanted you" to Dave. There's also a fair amount of
slapstick/cartoonish violence. But overall, it's a mild kids'
flick -- albeit one that's mired in product placement and
overcommercialism.
Families can talk about how the media generally portrays young superstars. Do you think this movie is a realistic look at what life is like for kid stars? What kinds of pressures do they face? Do you think kids in showbiz get to do whatever they want when they aren't working -- like Ian suggested -- or are they kept to a more "normal" routine, like Dave wanted? Kids: Ask your parents if they prefer the movie chipmunks or either of the older TV versions.
Common Sense Media Review
Some parents will fondly remember the '80s (and '60s) TV
shows about three singing brothers who happen to be chipmunks.
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS may not live up to those childhood
memories, but it's a decent-enough diversion for a generation
hitherto unfamiliar with Alvin, Simon, and Theodore.
The trio -- voiced by Justin Long (Alvin), Matthew Gray Gubler (Simon), and Jesse McCartney (Theodore) -- are kicked out of their pine tree home when it's chopped down and shipped to a record label's headquarters as a Christmas tree. They end up sneaking a ride with Dave ( Jason Lee), a down-and-out song composer who's none too happy to discover he has new rodent pals. Eventually, of course, the trio starts singing and inspires Dave to write a Christmas song that wows an oily label exec ( David Cross). The rest is chipmunk history.
If the thought of high-pitched voices singing a rap version of vintage Chipmunks hit "Witch Doctor" and Lipps Inc's "Funkytown" (among other songs) sends cold shivers of horror down your spine, this may not be the family film for you. But if you and the kids are up for a silly adventure featuring cute, familiar characters, Alvin and the Chipmunks is a safe-if-not-stellar bet this holiday season, especially for the under-10 crowd.
The best part of the story is that kids will see the danger of living like a "rock star" all the time. Too many toys and not enough discipline -- not to mention way too much caffeine and too many late-night concert gigs -- make Alvin, Simon, and Theodore crave Dave's loving discipline. If only real children were as reasonable as fictional chipmunks...
Families who want more of the trio may want to check out the feature-length animated videos Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman, Alvin and the Chipmunks: A Chipmunk Christmas, and Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein. Fans of the music will like the movie's soundtrack. And if you're looking for a similar movie with a different animal, try Garfield.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
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