ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED (USA 2011) ***
Directed by Mike Mitchell

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED is the third of the Chipmunk films – and if one wants to complain at these films, the by all means avoid the latest!

To be fair to the filmmakers and director Mike Mitchell, who came on board after SHREK FOREVER, ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED is a kid’s film and a younger kid’s film at that.  The humour is catered to them, so the film succeeds in entertaining them. The young girl seated in the same row as myself was jumping for joy in her seat, to the music and songs from the film.

The plot is simple enough, without a too terrible villain to scare the children.  The only baddies are Ian (David Cross) who has mellowed out from bad to not so bad in this third film, a kind of goofy guy that is fun for the kids to laugh at.  The other is a girl, a meaner one who is after the treasure hidden behind a waterfall.  Playing around while aboard a cruise ship, the Chipmunks and Chipettes accidentally go overboard and end up marooned in a tropical paradise. They discover their new turf is not as deserted as it seems.  The rest of the film has Simon (Jason Lee) searching for the Chipmunks and the Chipmunks for Simon. 

Most of the voice characterizations from Justin Long to Jesse McCartney are intact.  The chipmunks’ squeaky voices, though at times difficult to understand are a trademark of these troublemakers.

Director Mitchell does a fairly good job keeping the film entertaining.  The film is not as maniac as his SHREK FOREVER, and the film is the best of the Chipmunk trilogy. 

The introduction of the Chipettes allows more musical numbers to be added.  The climax of the film involves them trying to make the Music Awards and they perform a bright number that should keep the kids happy, if not dancing in the aisles.