Alvin & the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (U)

Alison Rowat's Review

America’s answer to Pinky and Perky, except they’re chipmunks and there are three of them, continue their relentless quest to conquer the Christmas box office with this, the ridiculously likeable third in the series.

Long-suffering Dave (Jason Lee, My Name is Earl) is taking the pop trio, plus the Chipettes, on a cruise when calamity strikes and everyone washes up on a desert island. The chipmunks films manage to strike a winning balance between lots of fun for wee ones – look ma, it’s a singing rat! – and a treat or five for adults courtesy of the gloriously snide interventions of former manager Ian (David Cross).

Part two was called The Squeakquel, this is Chipwrecked. Stand by for Chipbuilding, in which the plucky squirrels put a song back in the hearts of the British shipbuilding industry, or Ovenchipped, in which the trio have an unfortunate run in with a potato peeler. Only kidding, kids.

Paul Greenwood's Review

Alvin and his brothers Theodore and Simon are computer-generated rock star chipmunks whose two movie outings thus far have set box office tills worldwide ringing to the tune of $800m, all the while offering barely a moment’s entertainment.

This inevitable second sequel sees them, along with their ‘dad’ Dave (Jason Lee) and girl group the Chipettes on a cruise ship, where what Dave has planned as a relaxing vacation turns into a nightmare thanks to Alvin being more mischievous than ever.

A hang-gliding stunt ends up with them lost at sea, where sadly they don’t drown but end up on a desert island where sadly they’re not eaten by foxes.

Once again, an actual plot is not on the minds of the filmmakers, though the island setting does keep it focussed and there is real threat and stakes. Still, there are many inexplicable elements, with once again the Chipettes voiced by Anna Faris and Christina Applegate when they could be anyone, and really it’s mostly just a tired parade of dance routines and cover songs.

There’s no faulting the CGI used to realise the rodents, and there are a couple of nice Cast Away gags, but largely it’s pratfalls and pop culture references, and to say it’s an improvement on the brainpiercing atrocity that was the second Alvin movie, The Squeakquel, is damning with very faint praise indeed.