DVD Reviews

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel – DVD Review

By Jeff Swindoll Mar 30, 2010, 11:22 GMT

Double DVD Pack includes "Alvin And The Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel" DVD and "The Squeak Along" Bonus Features DVD. "Alvin And The Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel": Chipmunk singing sensations Alvin, Simon and Theodore are back for an encore in this hilarious "squeakquel" packed with more action and more nutty fun for the whole family! When a concert mishap lands Dave in the hospital, the Chipmunks take a break from superstardom ...more

“This is on like Donkey Kong.”

Alvin, Simon, and Theodore are the chipmunks that could. Their first movie was a surprise hit and their second, with a third in 3D coming soon, also made a ton at the box office. The “squeakquel” doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel, but it is good family fun (especially if you liked the first one).

Alvin (Justin Long), Simon (Matthew Gray Gubler) and Theodore (Jesse McCartney) are in Paris giving a concert. The overzealous Alvin is trying to steal the show with his stagecraft. What happens though is that his tomfoolery ends up injuring Dave (Jason Lee) who ends up in traction in a Parisian hospital.

Before being sedated, Dave tells the boys that he’s signed them up for school so that they can lead a more normal life (now what’s exactly normal about talking chipmunks?). The boys are sent back to the states to be cared for by Dave’s Aunt Jackie (Kathryn Joosten), who meets them at the airport, while Dave recovers enough for the flight back.

Unfortunately another accident puts Aunt Jackie into traction as well. The ‘munks left to the devices of Jackie’s slacker grandson Toby (Zachary Levi). Meanwhile, disgraced record executive Ian Hawke (David Cross) is squatting in the basement of Jett Records. He blames the Chipmunks for his ouster and plots revenge between diving in the dumpster for his next meal.

He’s brushing his teeth in the building’s fountain when a FedEx truck drops off a package. The padded envelope contains a trio of singing, talking, female chipmunks named Brittany (Christina Applegate), Jeanette (Anna Faris), and Eleanor (Amy Poehler) who bear a striking resemblance to another trio of singing, talking chipmunks.

Hawke sees an opportunity falling into his lap both for his revenge and a way to get back into the boardroom. The boys start school but have some difficulties being accepted. However, they are asked by principal Dr. Rubin (Wendie Malick) to represent the school in a musical contest that will ensure the school’s music program is funded. Hawke arrives to present the principal with the Chipettes and now the Chipmunks find they have some competition for the contest.

The Squeakquel really doesn’t do much different than the first Chipmunks film. Why mess with success I guess. Certainly lightening struck twice as both films made tons of cash at the box office. The critics reviled the film, but the audiences ate the Chipmunks up. Oh wait, that didn’t sound right.

A 400 million plus box office only guaranteed that those same hungry audiences will get a third film and in 3D to boot. For whatever reason, Dave is taken off the scene (perhaps Lee had other film commitments or was shooting My Name is Earl) and his slacker cousin fills in the gaps. He does get to shout his tradmark “Alviiiiiiiiinnn!”

The main plotline is the Chipettes and how the Chipmunks deal with their arrival, rivalry, and potential romance. I don’t know where these talented animals spring from but maybe FedEx can bring in some rapping racoons or some moose that play chamber music for part three (I bet it’s near a nuclear power station wherever it is).

The sequel does add a few more wrinkles to the story since the boys are trying to fit into school, but for the most part it’s more of the same. However, that “same” guaranteed the first film to be a surprise hit and audiences filed in to see this one too. So if you’re in the camp that liked the first film (me) then this second sequel will hit the same marks.

Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakquel is presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions. Disc one special features include the 11 minute “’Munk Music Machine” that repeats the songs from the film (with sing-a-long subtitles as well as having a non-stop repeat mode), the 9 minute “Music Mania” about the song contest that features in the finale, and previews of other Fox products.

Disc two is exclusive to the Double DVD pack and includes featurettes and music videos. The 9 minute “Munking History” looks at the history of the squeaky characters. The 8 minute “Meet the Chipettes” looks at the female counterparts to the boys. The 6 minute “Rockin’ Rising Stars” looks at the guest musicians that show up during the Music Mania contest. The Music Mania (9 minutes) featurette is also repeated from disc one. The 9 minute “The Chipmunks: Behind the Squeaking” is a faux documentary about the making of the film and the reality of the ‘munks.

The 2 minute “A-Nut-omy of a Scene” looks at the shooting of a scene. The 3 minute “Meet the Stuffies” shows us the stuffed stand-ins that double their animated counterparts. The 9 minute “Shake your Groove Thing with Rosero” has the film’s choreographer showing you some dance moves. There are also 16 minutes of music videos from the film with optional sing-a-long subtitles.

Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakquel doesn’t stray too far from the first film. That’s okay since the first film was likeable enough and fans will groove along to the new female chipmunks. It ain’t David Lean and kids might get more out of it than the adults, but those grownups will also think that this film is cute enough that they won’t get too restless.