When one says one grew up on ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS, it could mean many things.  For one, this film is based on the 80’s TV series but the film is also dedicated (end credits) to Ross Bagdasarian who created the group way back in 1958.  Most are familiar with the high pitched voices of the chipmunks.  Originally, as in the famous Christmas song – heard many times in the film – the voices of the group were all performed by Bagdasarian who sped the playback to achieve the squeaky voices of the chipmunks.

The story the latest CGI live action animation of ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS is simple enough to cater for the younger kids, obviously the target group for the movie.  (The auditorium for the promo screening was filled with kids 12 and under.) Songwriter David Seville (Jason Lee) accidentally picks up the 3 chipmunks when he steals a basket of muffins from the recording studio from which he had just been rejected.  Leader, Alvin (voice of Justin Long), Theodore and Simon turn David’s house more than upside down.  But they bring his songs to life and a father children relationship develops.

Director Tim Hill (who wrote the SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS movie) lays on the goofiness factor.  The original character of David was not that dumb but somehow the loving goofiness works never fails in animated features.  The SPONGEBOB AND SQUAREPANTS film and the looney tunes features were never boring to the young and adults alike.  David’s romantic fling is kept to a minimum.  The villain, Ian (David Cross) is also sort of lovable bad.

With the catchy Christmas song sung in high pitch, one cannot help but love these crooning CGI creatures.  And the audience can forgive the one fart and the one poo joke in this movie.  If you remember that the film is catered for the younger kids and if you hear the laughs and excitement in the auditorium, you can be sure that the film has succeeded admirably.