Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked

The shrill, squeaky-voiced, computer-generated rodents embark on their third big-screen adventure. While on the Carnival Cruise Line en route to the International Music Awards, Alvin (voiced by Justin Long), Simon (Matthew Gray Gubler), and Theodore (Jesse McCartney), along with the appearance-obsessed Chipettes—Eleanor (Amy Poehler), Jeanette (Anna Faris) and Brittany (Christina Applegate)—accidentally hitch a ride on a kite. The group land on an uncharted volcanic island, where they not only have to fend for their furry selves but also cope with Zoe (Jenny Slate), a UPS cargo pilot-turned-treasure hunter who's been stranded there for eight or nine years and has taken to chatting with a variety of “friends” (i.e., sports balls, in a spoof obviously inspired by Tom Hanks' 2000 film Cast Away, which is older than the target audience here). Commandeering a paraglider to pursue the sextet of rambunctious rodents are their adoptive human dad (Jason Lee) and resentful former recording exec (David Cross). Based on characters created by Ross Bagdasarian and Janice Karman (a spin-off from Bagdasarian's Grammy-winning 1958 novelty record The Chipmunk Song), this is a frenetic, formulaic entry in the franchise. Not a necessary purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include the “Munk Music and Dance Machine” option of playing all music tracks with additional onscreen dancing (20 min.), a “Munking Movies in Paradise” location featurette (7 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is the Fox Movie Channel production “Growing Up Alvin” on the creation of the series (10 min.), a “Going Overboard with the Chipmunks” featurette (8 min.), “Everybody Munk Now!” on a dance scene (8 min.), “Alan Tudyk, Chipmunk Apprentice” on playing Simon's alter-ego (7 min.), Fox Movie Channel's “In Character with Jason Lee” (5 min.) extended scenes (5 min.), three sing-along music videos, and bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a fine extras package for an uninspired family film.] (S. Granger)