DVD Review – Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip

DVD Reviews, Film, Reviews, Top Story

It’s amazing how much legs the Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise has had over the years. The singularly worst franchise of the past decade by far, it’s kind of amazing that we’re now at four films and counting with the franchise despite no noticeable quality to it. One imagines that if someone told Jason Lee as a 20 year old skateboarder that his biggest professional success as an actor would be playing second fiddle to animated characters he’d probably never want to pursue acting as a career.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip is the sort of film you refer to as an actor’s point of no return when it comes to their dignity. One film and you can argue that Jason Lee is trying to diversify his career post My Name is Earl, which was an interesting choice following a fairly diversified film career that began with Kevin Smith’s cult hit Mallrats. Four Alvin and the Chipmunks films and one can argue that Lee’s dignity has been for sale for some time. It’s hard to compare the quirky character actor who took massive risks early on in his career with the guy content to crank out sequels to a low quality children’s film these days.

This time around the chipmunks (and Dave) are en route to Miami. Shenanigans ensue, of course, and it’s about 90 minutes of sadness and high pitched renditions of popular songs of the past 12 months. Par for the course the film, much like the other films in the franchise so far, is designed for young children and nothing more.

Road Chip is a good distraction for your kids but it’ll make you want to commit ritual Seppuku by the end if you’re older than 12.

An EPK piece about the franchise, as well as the “best” songs from the franchise, are included.

20th Century Fox presents Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip. Directed by Walt Becker. Written by Randi Mayem Singer and Adam Sztykiel Based on “Alvin and the Chipmunks” by Ross Bagdasarian and “The Chipettes” by Janice Karman. Starring Jason Lee, Tony Hale, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Josh Green, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Kaley Cuoco, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate. Run Time: 92 minutes Rated PG. Released on DVD: 3.15.2016