ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKQUEL (USA 2009) ***
Directed by Betty Thomas

In this ‘squeakquel’ to the Chipmunks 2007 movie, ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS go to school and save the school’s music program by winning the prize money a la High School Musical style.

The kids at the preview were entertained enough judging from their high pitched laughter matching the frequency of the Chipmunks’ voices.  Alvin puts Dave (Jason Lee) to hospital early in the movie and they are taken care of by Dave’s geeky nephew Toby (Zachary Levi).  Forced to go to school, the Chipmunks have new adventures.  They meet their match in the female equivalent of the Chipettes.  But all is fun in romance and competition.

Director Thomas (BRADY BUNCH, I SPY) does well with the rather childish material – no complaints.  She blends in goofiness with cutesiness.  Who can dislike furry creatures wearing knitted garments?  Followers of the series will hear the familiar “Alvinnnnn…” being screamed by Dave as Alvin gets into more trouble.  The songs performed by the Chipmunks are mostly known favorites.  The filmmakers have made the effort to recruit well-known names such as Christina Applegate and Anna Faris to voice the Chipettes.  Justin Long continues to voice Alvin while David Cross is still the baddie in this movie.  The CGI and special animation effects are impressive and hardly noticeable when live and animation function together.

It is difficult to make a very young kiddies movie that adults will also find challenging.  For ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKQUEL, at least the adults will not be bored.  Just wish that there would be more of Dave in this movie.