Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel has a lot of what the first one had. It is cheesy and overwhelmingly predictable. But it has funny scenes, some catchy songs, and Theodore is still as adorable as ever. What you see is what you get with a movie like this. It is for the kids and the movie is family friendly. So most adults will not like it, but they will endure it for their children.
Jason Lee is back to playing Dave again, but he only has a few scenes. His character spends most of his time in the hospital due to an accident happening during one of the Chipmunks’ concerts. And wouldn’t you know that Alvin had something to do with that mishap?
As Dave recovers, Alvin, Simon, and Theodore take a break from their music careers and stay with Dave’s nephew, Toby (Zachary Levi). The Chipmunks are sent to school and that is where the real story to this sequel is. The Chipmunks get caught up in school and Alvin has to either choose his brothers or being a star on the football team. Most importantly, they must battle their feelings of love after they meet the Chipettes.
The Squeakquel was able to get a great voice cast. Returning from the original is Justin Long voicing Alvin, Matthew Gray Gubler voicing Simon and Jesse McCartney voicing Theodore. But this time around, the Chipettes are voiced by three talented actresses: Christina Applegate, Anna Faris, and Amy Poehler. Now with that said, I have no idea why they get a great voice cast like that because you cannot tell it is them at all. It doesn’t even make a difference who plays the voices really. But I guess those are names you can put on the poster and in the credits.
The Chipettes add something new to the sequel, but they are put in the same situation that the Chipmunks were in the last movie. The Chipettes want to be like the Chipmunks so they get their old manager (played by David Cross) and we all know how this will end. I have a feeling that the Chipettes will go down that same path the Chipmunks went down, but I’m sure they will be alright.
What brings these two groups together is a battle of the bands contest and the winner’s school will get $25,000. Their school needs that cash to save their music program. At first, the Chipmunks and the Chipettes battle to see who will represent the school, and I won’t tell you who wins and how. I will tell you that due to certain events that you see coming way before it happens, the battle of the bands becomes a group effort. I have already said too much.
Let’s face it. It is not the story we go to see for an Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. We want to hear their voices and their singing. And you get all of that in this sequel. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel will not disappoint the kids who love them. It is for the family, so this movie gets a pass on being a little cheesy. I can honestly say that if you liked the first one then you will like this one. It is practically the first one, but with female chipmunks.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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