ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE ROAD CHIP (2015) Review
Directed by Walt Becker
In 2009, a group of singing chipmunks meets a frustrated songwriter and made lovable music together. Alvin and the Chipmunks was successful because of their charms, wit and catchy tunes. But all of the films are predictable, thinly-written and at times stupid.
The popularity of these characters obviously made the film adaptations add more and more, and now on its fourth installment (yes, FOURTH!), adds a new character which makes things more interesting but everything still feels incoherent because of its characters lack of self-awareness. Alvin, Simon and Theodore are stars, their names are popular not only to kids but to also adults but that doesn’t seem to matter to anyone in the film.
Alvin and the Chipmunks lives contently with Dave Seville played by Jason Lee, who surprises the trio that he’s going to Miami without them for a couple of days but instead bringing Samantha played by Kimberly Williams-Paisley, the girl he’s dating with him. Everything’s cool for Alvin, Simon and Theodore until Samantha’s son, Miles played by Josh Green enters the picture, the cool-looking but a bully behind their parents.
Before Dave and Samantha leaves, Alvin and his brothers saw what seems to be an engagement ring. While the two leave for Miami, they decided to leave Miles with the chipmunks while they’re gone. And with everything not going well, Miles and the chipmunks decided they should stop Dave from proposing before they force themselves to become a family. The hate between Miles and the chipmunks will obviously cool down as they bond to stop Dave from proposing to Samantha. There are some entertaining set pieces presented and production numbers that you wish were longer or more along the way.
While it provides a decent and harmless entertainment for the whole family, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip doesn’t seem to care about what these characters have established as singing sensations. And its predictability pretty much boils down the excitement one would want from a movie experience.There’s still the charms and sophisticated production numbers and Josh Green adds a little something to those. You’d wish they would be more aware of these characters stature in the world they created but that will probably make the film nonexistent.
2 OUT OF 5 STARS
“Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip” opens January 20, 2016 in Philippine cinemas from 20th Century Fox, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures Philippines. Rated PG by the MTRCB.