Alvin and the Chipmunks 3-Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked (2011)

Directed by: Mike Mitchell | 87 minutes | music, animation, comedy, family, fantasy | Actors: Andy Buckley, Lauren Gottlieb, Tucker Albrizzi, Luisa D’Oliveira, Jenny Slate, Michael P. Northey, Chris Lindsay, Jeremy Palko, Heather Robbins, Kyle Cornell, Wendell Kinney | Original voice cast: Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Amy Poehler, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate, Alan Tudyk

Singing chipmunks: anyone who thinks it will give nightmares has nothing to do with this film, but those who have enjoyed (even if in moderation) the first and/or second film in the series will enjoy ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks 3 have a nice pastime. Of course director Mike Mitchell (‘Shrek Forever After’) mainly focuses on the primary school audience, but for the (grand) parents accompanying them, the third Alvin adventure is really not the proverbial long sit.

Alvin, Theodore, Simon and the Chipettes (Eleanor, Jeanette and Brittany) are on vacation with Dave Seville (Jason Lee). With a cruise, they also kill two birds with one stone: their luxurious ship will take them to the International Music Awards, provided that Alvin doesn’t stop that with his mischievous pranks that get out of hand. Because Alvin is the Alvin as you know it from the first two films: annoying, self-righteous and immature. He does what he likes and doesn’t take the others into account. That will cost him dearly.

When the chipmunks end up on a seemingly desert island at the hands of Alvin, they must do everything they can to survive. At first it’s about keeping warm – a fire has to be lit, and the next day it’s important to find food. During their search, they suddenly encounter a young woman, Zoe (Jenny Slate), who has been living on the island for about eight years after her UPS cargo plane crashed. The chipmunks soon realize that years of loneliness have had a rather bizarre effect on Zoe: she’s crazy as hell. For lack of better company, however, the six remain with her.

Especially the first part of the film, which takes place on the cruise ship, is energetic and humorous. For example, the dance battle between the Chipettes and three ladies lifted over the horse is very funny. But Alvin’s antics are also quite nice, although you would also like to stick it behind the wallpaper. The chubby and disarming Theodore steals viewers’ hearts when he watches a scary movie and gives Dave a homemade necklace. The middle part of the film is less captivating, which has mainly to do with the character Zoe. Here and there her role in the story yields a nice find (the balls), but actually it is an annoying person, which does not fit in a Chipmunk adventure.

The bickering between Dave and David Cross’s character Ian (who’s also back for the third time) is equally enjoyable – but you wonder if the film wouldn’t have been better if it had stayed with the meeting on the cruise ship. Towards the end, the film has another twist in store, where the stretch goes completely out of ‘credibility’. The musical intermezzos are kept to a minimum, the emphasis is on the adventure. As thin as the story is, and however thick the moral is, ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks 3’ for the most part knows how to entertain the young audience: with a light-hearted story with enough gags, adorable stuffed animals and a reasonable tension. (although it never gets nail-bitingly exciting). An additional advantage is that older viewers – in contrast to the much more mediocre second part – do not have to grab a bowl this time and that the filmmakers have not succumbed to 3D.