| |
|
 
|
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS -
THE CHIPMUNK ADVENTURE |
 |
 |
| Actors: Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., Janice Karman, Dody Goodman, Nancy Cartwright |
| Director: Janice Karman |
|
Distributor: Paramount |
| DVD release: 01 April 2008 |
|
Feature runtime: 76 minutes
(1 disc) |
| Format: Animated, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Special Edition, NTSC |
| DVD Features: Audio tracks (English, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround; English, Dolby Digital Stereo), Original Artwork from "The Chipmunk Adventur," Soundtrack on CD
|
|
Never underestimate the power of nostalgia! For a grown-up child of the '80s, the re-release of the animated The Chipmunk Adventure is fantastic. It has it all: toe-tapping tunes, goofy characters with spunk, and a great storyline with a good dose of morals that don't smack you over the head. But if it is good enough for Alvin, Simon and Theodore, why not for us, too?
The story opens with David heading off on a business trip, and hiring the slightly strange Miss Miller to babysit his precocious threesome. When Alvin the schemer leads the three, of course there is bound to be trouble - Miss Miller or no. With a little mischievous plotting, they drag the Chippettes into a race around the world via hot air balloons. The "winner" of the race is set to win $100,000, and that is enough to bring out the competitor in each of the small leaders. What they don't know is that their wealthy benefactors are only using the little group - gasp! - to collect priceless gems.
The tale is a wee bit transparent but more than entertaining enough to make up for it. Apparently, this was a popular opinion, because it was nominated for Best Animated Motion Picture in 1988.
The music is marvelous. This particular release includes the soundtrack on its own separate disc. The Chipmunk Adventure is one of those musicals offers tunes so enjoyable that the free soundtrack is an imminently appealing feature. "The Girls of Rock n' Roll" is a musical battle of the bests with the boys - my personal favorite. (Do I admit that, back in the day, I might have known all the dance moves to that song?....no, I don't think I need to admit that.) "My Mother" is a sweet crooning song that touches the heart. Their groovy Chipmunk'd version of "Wolly Bully" is dramatic and giggle-inspiring, as they dangle over a pit trying to stall the tribe that has captured them.
As with any Chipmunk production, if one can handle the obscenely high voices, the story is bound to make for wry smiles and laughter. You might even catch yourself singing along. The Chipmunk Adventure is the real deal, not the new-fangled cartooning that is out now. Alvin's first full-length movie meets the promise of entertainment for the whole family.
|
|
|
