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There are few things more irresistible than the high pitched helium dulcet tones of Chipmunks singing pop hits and Christmas songs. Which would explain why "Alvin and the Chipmunks" has been a successful franchise dating all the way back to 1958, delighting generations of kids (and their kids, and the kids of their kids).

Working for this movie is the familiarity of these beloved characters as well as the high pitched Chipmunk singing, which even had my Goth son in stitches.

Working against this movie, although it's cute and kids will no doubt love it, it's pretty insignificant.

The 2007 Live Action version of this popular kid's tale sees Dave Seville ("My Name is Earl" star Jason Lee) as a frustrated aspiring songwriter who can't seem to get his dream off the ground. Dave isn't all that likable at first; he's selfish and a total commitment-phobe. And, if you're a fan of "Earl", that's who you'll most likely see all through the movie - my husband said it felt like "Earl Hickey and the Chipmunks".

Dave's life is turned almost literally upside down by some misplaced Chipmunk refugees, who wind up in his house and his life pretty much against his will. Let's face it, a singing chipmunk would trip out the most sane of us.

Once he gets past the idea they can talk and learns that they can sing, it suddenly dawns on our opportunistic friend that he may have just found his meal ticket. So he prepares to take his new found proteges to see his friend (and music producer)- the equally opportunistic Ian (David Cross).

There's a kink in their plan. Mainly that their plan hinges on not just three chipmunks, but three *kid* chipmunks. And with this tiny little complication, Dave finds himself not just a manager, but a would be dad. This is further complicated by the fact that they're essentially undisciplined children who cannot help but get into heaps of mischief.

There are plenty of spots that will drive young kids into hysterics, and probably make a parent or two smile. But the movie borders on the obnoxious quite a bit. Those parents of young children out there who like to latch onto a movie and play it until you want to chuck it through the nearest window might want to avoid buying this without a prescription for some sort of sedative.

I was fairly impressed with the CGI effects of the three chipmunks in their misadventures. As the movie progresses you stop seeing the computer animation as much as you see three chipmunks. Perhaps it is their too cute rapport with the real life actors in their scenes, or perhaps it's the fact that they are indeed a little "too cute" and that is just annoying enough to take away from anything else.

Either way, the movie works on some level. But if you're old enough to vote, you might want to take a pass.

C

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