Post by Die Fledermaus on Dec 14, 2007 20:52:46 GMT -4
>> Chipmunks' drive us to rodent rage
Friday, December 14th 2007, 4:00 AM
'Alvin and the Chipmunks' is not exactly delicious film fare.
‘Alvin and the Chipmunks.’ Family film about a failing songwriter who meets three musical chipmunks. With Jason Lee, David Cross. Director: Tim Hill (1:32). PG: Crude humor. At area theaters.
Let's say you're Jason Lee. You've slogged away for years in a movie career that never quite took off. Then you hit it big on TV, with "My Name Is Earl." Naturally, you capitalize on your success by making a new film with ... computer-animated chipmunks?
If karma exists, "Alvin and the Chipmunks" must be Lee's punishment for appearing in the likes of "Jersey Girl." Even Bill Murray was smart enough to stay offscreen when he supplied the voice for Garfield.
And yet here Lee is, looking suitably ashamed to be playing opposite three CGI animals with really annoying voices. Director Tim Hill has updated the characters Ross Bagdasarian created in 1958, while starting the story from scratch. Lee's Dave is a sadsack songwriter living in L.A. His producer, Ian (David Cross), hates his work, and his girlfriend, Claire (a bland Cameron Richardson), has dumped him. Just as he's ready to give up all hope, he hears scurrying in his kitchen, where he finds Alvin (voiced by Justin Long), Theodore (Jesse McCartney) and Simon (Matthew Gray Gubler).
Much to his surprise, these cheeky chipmunks can not only talk, they sing. Before long, his new pets have made themselves at home, keeping a lonely Dave company for Christmas and performing his songs for Ian.
Unfortunately, the ultra-sleazy Ian sees dollar signs in each of their tiny eyes. So he drapes them in bling, sends them on tour, and works them until they're ready to drop. Even worse, he cuts a worried and protective Dave out of the picture. Will the chipmunks survive life on the road? Will Dave rescue them from Ian's greedy clutches before the damage is done?
Oh, come on. Do you really care? And even if you do, you shouldn't. Lee doesn't. Hill - who made the equally lazy "Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties" - doesn't. Our only laughs come from Cross, who remains remarkably enthusiastic throughout. Or maybe he's just amused that, unlike us, he's actually getting something out of his end of the deal. <<
Friday, December 14th 2007, 4:00 AM
'Alvin and the Chipmunks' is not exactly delicious film fare.
‘Alvin and the Chipmunks.’ Family film about a failing songwriter who meets three musical chipmunks. With Jason Lee, David Cross. Director: Tim Hill (1:32). PG: Crude humor. At area theaters.
Let's say you're Jason Lee. You've slogged away for years in a movie career that never quite took off. Then you hit it big on TV, with "My Name Is Earl." Naturally, you capitalize on your success by making a new film with ... computer-animated chipmunks?
If karma exists, "Alvin and the Chipmunks" must be Lee's punishment for appearing in the likes of "Jersey Girl." Even Bill Murray was smart enough to stay offscreen when he supplied the voice for Garfield.
And yet here Lee is, looking suitably ashamed to be playing opposite three CGI animals with really annoying voices. Director Tim Hill has updated the characters Ross Bagdasarian created in 1958, while starting the story from scratch. Lee's Dave is a sadsack songwriter living in L.A. His producer, Ian (David Cross), hates his work, and his girlfriend, Claire (a bland Cameron Richardson), has dumped him. Just as he's ready to give up all hope, he hears scurrying in his kitchen, where he finds Alvin (voiced by Justin Long), Theodore (Jesse McCartney) and Simon (Matthew Gray Gubler).
Much to his surprise, these cheeky chipmunks can not only talk, they sing. Before long, his new pets have made themselves at home, keeping a lonely Dave company for Christmas and performing his songs for Ian.
Unfortunately, the ultra-sleazy Ian sees dollar signs in each of their tiny eyes. So he drapes them in bling, sends them on tour, and works them until they're ready to drop. Even worse, he cuts a worried and protective Dave out of the picture. Will the chipmunks survive life on the road? Will Dave rescue them from Ian's greedy clutches before the damage is done?
Oh, come on. Do you really care? And even if you do, you shouldn't. Lee doesn't. Hill - who made the equally lazy "Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties" - doesn't. Our only laughs come from Cross, who remains remarkably enthusiastic throughout. Or maybe he's just amused that, unlike us, he's actually getting something out of his end of the deal. <<
