Alvin and the Chipmunks: A Chipmunk Christmas—25th Anniversary Special Collector's Edition

The giving spirit of Christmas inspires a change of heart in greedy, present-grubbing Alvin when he learns of Tommy, a very sick little boy whose spirits can only be lifted by a harmonica—a gift, alas, that Tommy's family cannot afford. Alvin gives Tommy his own precious instrument, just as Dave books the Chipmunks for a Christmas Eve concert (at Carnegie Hall, no less) at which Alvin is expected to perform a harmonica solo, forcing the lads to desperately try to raise money to buy Alvin a replacement. This 1981 special will be a nostalgic kick for older Chipmunk fans, who will appreciate the cameo by Clyde Crashcup (a crackpot character from the original The Alvin Show) and a rendition of the Chipmunks' holiday classic, “The Chipmunk Song.” Queen of Cartoons June Foray has a dual role as the maternal voice of Tommy's worried mother and the mysterious stranger who rewards Alvin's altruism, and legendary Warner Bros. animator Chuck Jones is credited as creative consultant (you can see his influence in some of the characters' priceless deadpan reaction shots). Also included are two other holiday-themed episodes—inspired by A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life—from the late 1980s' DIC incarnation of Alvin and the Chipmunks. In “Merry Christmas, Mr. Carroll,” Alvin learns (once again) the true meaning of Christmas from three nocturnal spirits who open his heart, while in “Dave's Wonderful Life,” a distressed, money-strapped Dave thinks the Chipmunks would have been better off if he never existed, until he sees the positive influence he has had on their lives. DVD extras include a bonus CD music soundtrack. Recommended. Aud: P. (D. Liebenson)