Alvin and the Chipmunks
Metascore
39 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 23 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 23
  3. Negative: 7 out of 23
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  1. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Stina Chyn
    80
    Absolutely--four out of five stars for being cuter, funnier, and, besides, the character design far exceeded my expectations.
  2. Premiere
    Reviewed by: Andrew Grant
    63
    At times funny, and even occasionally witty, Alvin and the Chipmunks is a lively, entertaining romp that will certainly bring smiles to the young ones this holiday season.
  3. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Luke Y. Thompson
    60
    Lee, acting through gritted teeth, barely musters the energy to yell “Alvin!,” but the chipmunks themselves -- voiced by Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney -- are surprisingly appealing, though their newly R&B-tinged rendition of “Witch Doctor” is god-awful.
  4. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Michael Ordona
    60
    There is sweetness here. The scene in which Dave and the boys decorate the tree is charming, and the Chipmunks' excited presentation of gifts to their human dad is actually sort of touching. And dang it, the little animated rodents are cute.
  5. Variety
    Reviewed by: Joe Leydon
    60
    A harmless and frequently humorous trifle.
  6. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Frank Scheck
    50
    Unfortunately, as rendered here by the average-looking CGI effects, the characters are underwhelming in their appeal, lacking the charm of their previous animated incarnations.
  7. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    50
    About as good as a movie with these characters can probably be, and I am well aware that I am the wrong audience for this movie.
  8. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Phillips
    50
    So it’s one of those Hip, Now updates, albeit with jokes riffing on pop-cult artifacts that are already Then. I mean: “Jerry Maguire”? Moratorium!
  9. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Carrie Rickey
    50
    Ultimately, the values and the CGI are good, but the acting is broad and the chipmunks aren't really differentiated. What happened to Alvin, the rodent counterpart of Dennis the Menace? Was he declawed in the translation to CGI?
  10. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    50
    They’re baaaaack.
  11. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Stephen Cole
    50
    As for children's entertainment needs, well, having seen both "The Golden Compass" and Alvin and the Chipmunks with a full theatre of four- to 12-year-olds, this reviewer is honour-bound to report that Alvin wins the kids' vote, paws down.
  12. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Stephen Hunter
    50
    Youngsters who love the shrieky singing and don't notice the tapioca of the story will probably get their money's worth. Parents: Bring earplugs.
  13. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Andrea Gronvall
    50
    Live-action stars take a backseat to CGI chipmunks in this uneven family comedy.
  14. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Keith Phipps
    42
    There's just not enough here for a movie. It's almost as if some ideas were meant to live for three and a half minutes each Christmas season, not to get stretched to the breaking point for 50 years.
  15. Empire
    Reviewed by: Anna Smith
    40
    Fun musical numbers and cartoonish humour give way to a bland sermon about the evils of the music industry.
  16. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Andy Webster
    40
    Despite its shout-outs to the holiday season, this is essentially airplane fodder, not a perennial. Don’t hold your breath waiting for the sequel.
  17. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Elizabeth Weitzman
    38
    If karma exists, Alvin and the Chipmunks must be Lee's punishment for appearing in the likes of "Jersey Girl."
  18. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Claudia Puig
    38
    The movie is devoid of laughs, except for a mildly funny segment when one of the chipmunks inhales helium. And since this is aimed at the under-10 set, it includes the requisite flatulence joke and a spit take or two.
  19. Charlotte Observer
    Reviewed by: Lawrence Toppman
    38
    Lee sleepwalks through his part, even in romantic scenes with equally bland Cameron Richardson.
  20. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Peter Hartlaub
    25
    A movie that features a cartoon rodent eating his brother's feces, and do you really need to know more about this update of Ross Bagdasarian's iconic musical creation?
  21. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    25
    Like most family movies these days, "Alvin" is torn between the glitz that sells and the homilies that endure. It's a load of Ting Tang Wallet-Wallet Bling Blang.
  22. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Marc Savlov
    20
    They shoot rodents, don't they?
  23. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Lou Lumenick
    0
    This partially animated, charm-free atrocity is awful enough to instantly cure any remaining nostalgia for the rodent trio.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.8 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 127 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 55
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 55
  3. Negative: 12 out of 55
  1. grandpajoe6191
    4
    "Alvin and the Chipmunks" is a movie that has a SOOOO-familar-plot-and-script-that-is-obvious-and-basic-as-hell, I don't even want to talk about it....… Full Review »
  2. LawlessSquirrel
    8
    If you're looking for a movie like the old Chipmunks movies, you'll probably find yourself entertained. Don't expect ground-breaking work, because this certainly isn't it, but it's a well meaning attempt to pay tribute to Alvin and the Chipmunks series, and succeeds in being just that. The plot is predictable and there's no serious depth, but if you go in with the right state of mind it makes for a heart-warming piece of escapism.… Full Review »
  3. Rikiege
    6
    Overall is good, but it is very slow and makes you boring. Recommended for people who have nothing to do one day.
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