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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.

Alvin and the Chipmunks
20th Century Fox


6.5

based on 23 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 74 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

FILM:

MPAA RATING: PG for some mild rude humor

Starring Jason Lee, David Cross, Cameron Richardson, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, and Jane Lynch

Alvin and the Chipmunks, a global phenomenon to generations of fans, becomes a live action/CGI motion picture event with a contemporary comic sensibility. Songwriter Dave Seville transforms singing chipmunks Alvin, Simon, and Theodore into pop sensations while the out-of-control trio lays waste to Dave's home, wreaks havoc with his career, and turns his once-orderly life upside down. (20th Century Fox)

GENRE(S):	Comedy \| Family/Kids
WRITTEN BY:	Jon Vitti (& story) Chris Viscardi Will McRobb
DIRECTED BY:	Tim Hill
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: April 1, 2008 Theatrical: December 14, 2007
RUNNING TIME:	92 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Film Threat Stina Chyn

Absolutely--four out of five stars for being cuter, funnier, and, besides, the character design far exceeded my expectations.

Premiere Andrew Grant

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.

Variety Joe Leydon

A harmless and frequently humorous trifle.

LA Weekly Luke Y. Thompson

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.

Los Angeles Times Michael Ordona

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.

TV Guide Ken Fox

They’re baaaaack.

Washington Post Stephen Hunter

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.

Chicago Reader Andrea Gronvall

Live-action stars take a backseat to CGI chipmunks in this uneven family comedy.

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

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?

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Stephen Cole

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.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

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.

Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips

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!

The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck

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.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Keith Phipps

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.

The New York Times Andy Webster

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.

Empire Anna Smith

Fun musical numbers and cartoonish humour give way to a bland sermon about the evils of the music industry.

USA Today Claudia Puig

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.

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

Lee sleepwalks through his part, even in romantic scenes with equally bland Cameron Richardson.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

If karma exists, Alvin and the Chipmunks must be Lee's punishment for appearing in the likes of "Jersey Girl."

Boston Globe Ty Burr

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.

San Francisco Chronicle Peter Hartlaub

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?

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

They shoot rodents, don't they?

New York Post Lou Lumenick

This partially animated, charm-free atrocity is awful enough to instantly cure any remaining nostalgia for the rodent trio.

The average user rating for this movie is 6.5 (out of 10) based on 74 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Joe N. gave it a10:
I loved this flick, it was a entertaining sight that can make any alvin and the chipmunks fan pop...you gotta love this classic, i give it 4 out of 5.

Janmik S. gave it a0:
Ended up giving smiles to people's faces but relies on a very weak and predictable plot. Here you may find yourself not just foreseeing the plot but ALSO finishing the characters' dialogs.

Sadevare J. gave it a10:
THIS IS A GOOD MOVIE!

Linda W. gave it a9:
Totally enjoyable....watched with my two grandchildren and we were totally entertained. Sweet story of becoming a family and the importance of someone caring for you. Highly recommended.

Aaron C. gave it a1:
I am giving this movie a 1. i would've given it a zero but i think it really has the chance of winning the best picture Oscar/ and also the best actor Oscar but not for the human but instead for one of the chipmunks.

Peter J. gave it a1:
This movie was awful. Even my small children were smart enough to know that this was pure garbage and they went outside and played.

Mike G. gave it a5:
I'm getting' tired of the typical Hollywood storyline that was attached to a great movie idea, you know the drill, Dave takes his friends (chipmunks and women) for granted, then reconciles the situation with 10 minutes left in the movie. Also the "love interest" blond seems uppity. This movie is great for kids new to redundant Hollywood scripts, everyone else has seen it already, just without chipmunk "paint".

Alvin and the Chipmunks 20th Century Fox

Alvin and the Chipmunks
20th Century Fox