a.sAlvin and the Chipmunks
July 2nd 2008 06:30
Greetings fellow cinema dimers, another movie review is hitting the blog and this time its Alvin and the chipmunks
Alvin simon and theodore are a cute bubbly trio of singing chipmunks who are none-too-happy about their boring daily routine of foraging nuts for the winter. They do, however, love an occasional song break when they can harmonize their wee voices and sing their troubles away. But when big trouble shows up in the form of a Christmas tree company that takes them (and their tree) away, all they feel like singing is the blues.
In the meantime, struggling songwriter Dave hasn't been very happy with his lot in life, either. Nobody wants his music. Even his producer-friend Ian suggests that he hold onto his day job. So when the despondent musician discovers that three teenage rodents have somehow made their way into his kitchen cabinets, he sees his life as one big sour note.
But wait. When Dave happens to hear Alvin, Simon and Theodore sing (after the initial shock of learning that chipmunks can sing), his frown turns upside down. Yep, it's that kind of movie. These crazy chipmunks might actually help Dave make beautiful music. In turn, Alvin and Co. realize that they may have found a new home. And a new family.
Half a century ago, in 1958, Ross Bagdasarian came up with a novelty song idea called The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late). He sped up his voice and sang the parts of three funny critters who longed for Christmas treasures. The cutely annoying little ditty shot to No. 1 on the charts and essentially made a career for Bagdasarian—a life later mirrored by his fictional David Seville alter ego.
From those humble beginnings were birthed Grammy-winning Chipmunk albums, several TV series (including The Alvin Show and Alvin and the Chipmunks) and a variety of animated movies. The youthful warblers even met their female chipmunk counterparts, The Chipettes, along the way. Thus, some form of Chipmunk nuttiness has been around for kids to enjoy for the last 50 years.
And since Hollywood execs have had a sudden desire to transform old cartoons into live-action movies (Transformers, Underdog, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, George of the Jungle), it's no surprise that they've now gotten around to this familiar blue-eyed and furry ensemble. Considering those aforementioned film adaptations, it's also not surprising that 20th Century Fox concluded that the Chippies needed some freshening up. (Read: spoiling.) Never mind that the appeal for parents and their young charges will be the nostalgic cuteness of the squeaky-voiced crew of old, conventional wisdom says you gotta bring on the hip-hop stylings, the sexy dancers and plenty of potty pranks.
You might not realize what's happened at first, as immersed in this kind of stuff as we all are these days. It wasn't until I was talking with my editor about how to politely describe the "poop" scenes in this kiddie flick that I realized just what the poor ol' Chipmunks have become. How could their late creator be pleased? And most parents won't be either as they're forced to try to short-circuit the toilet humor, or remind their young ones that cheering out a swivel-hipped "Bow-chick-a-wow-wow!" in some girl's direction isn't good behavior during schoolyard play. Not to mention telling someone to "kiss my furry cheeks."
Alvin simon and theodore are a cute bubbly trio of singing chipmunks who are none-too-happy about their boring daily routine of foraging nuts for the winter. They do, however, love an occasional song break when they can harmonize their wee voices and sing their troubles away. But when big trouble shows up in the form of a Christmas tree company that takes them (and their tree) away, all they feel like singing is the blues.
In the meantime, struggling songwriter Dave hasn't been very happy with his lot in life, either. Nobody wants his music. Even his producer-friend Ian suggests that he hold onto his day job. So when the despondent musician discovers that three teenage rodents have somehow made their way into his kitchen cabinets, he sees his life as one big sour note.
But wait. When Dave happens to hear Alvin, Simon and Theodore sing (after the initial shock of learning that chipmunks can sing), his frown turns upside down. Yep, it's that kind of movie. These crazy chipmunks might actually help Dave make beautiful music. In turn, Alvin and Co. realize that they may have found a new home. And a new family.
Half a century ago, in 1958, Ross Bagdasarian came up with a novelty song idea called The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late). He sped up his voice and sang the parts of three funny critters who longed for Christmas treasures. The cutely annoying little ditty shot to No. 1 on the charts and essentially made a career for Bagdasarian—a life later mirrored by his fictional David Seville alter ego.
From those humble beginnings were birthed Grammy-winning Chipmunk albums, several TV series (including The Alvin Show and Alvin and the Chipmunks) and a variety of animated movies. The youthful warblers even met their female chipmunk counterparts, The Chipettes, along the way. Thus, some form of Chipmunk nuttiness has been around for kids to enjoy for the last 50 years.
And since Hollywood execs have had a sudden desire to transform old cartoons into live-action movies (Transformers, Underdog, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, George of the Jungle), it's no surprise that they've now gotten around to this familiar blue-eyed and furry ensemble. Considering those aforementioned film adaptations, it's also not surprising that 20th Century Fox concluded that the Chippies needed some freshening up. (Read: spoiling.) Never mind that the appeal for parents and their young charges will be the nostalgic cuteness of the squeaky-voiced crew of old, conventional wisdom says you gotta bring on the hip-hop stylings, the sexy dancers and plenty of potty pranks.
You might not realize what's happened at first, as immersed in this kind of stuff as we all are these days. It wasn't until I was talking with my editor about how to politely describe the "poop" scenes in this kiddie flick that I realized just what the poor ol' Chipmunks have become. How could their late creator be pleased? And most parents won't be either as they're forced to try to short-circuit the toilet humor, or remind their young ones that cheering out a swivel-hipped "Bow-chick-a-wow-wow!" in some girl's direction isn't good behavior during schoolyard play. Not to mention telling someone to "kiss my furry cheeks."
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