Poster art for "Alvin and the Chipmunks."

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Avg. Critic Score: 39 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
5 OK for kids 5+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 60
    Variety | Joe Leydon

    A harmless and frequently humorous trifle. Read full review

  • 60
    Los Angeles Times |

    There is sweetness here. The scene in which Dave and the boys decorate the tree is charming, and the Chipmunks' excited presentation of gifts to their human dad is actually sort of touching. And dang it, the little animated rodents are cute. Read full review

  • 50
    Philadelphia Inquirer | Carrie Rickey

    Ultimately, the values and the CGI are good, but the acting is broad and the chipmunks aren't really differentiated. What happened to Alvin, the rodent counterpart of Dennis the Menace? Was he declawed in the translation to CGI? Read full review

  • 50
    The Hollywood Reporter | Frank Scheck

    Unfortunately, as rendered here by the average-looking CGI effects, the characters are underwhelming in their appeal, lacking the charm of their previous animated incarnations. Read full review

  • 50
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    About as good as a movie with these characters can probably be, and I am well aware that I am the wrong audience for this movie. Read full review

  • 50
    Washington Post | Stephen Hunter

    Youngsters who love the shrieky singing and don't notice the tapioca of the story will probably get their money's worth. Parents: Bring earplugs. Read full review

  • 40
    The New York Times |

    Despite its shout-outs to the holiday season, this is essentially airplane fodder, not a perennial. Don't hold your breath waiting for the sequel. Read full review

  • 38
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    The movie is devoid of laughs, except for a mildly funny segment when one of the chipmunks inhales helium. And since this is aimed at the under-10 set, it includes the requisite flatulence joke and a spit take or two. Read full review

  • 25
    San Francisco Chronicle | Peter Hartlaub

    A movie that features a cartoon rodent eating his brother's feces, and do you really need to know more about this update of Ross Bagdasarian's iconic musical creation? Read full review

  • 25
    Boston Globe | Ty Burr

    Like most family movies these days, "Alvin" is torn between the glitz that sells and the homilies that endure. It's a load of Ting Tang Wallet-Wallet Bling Blang. Read full review

View more reviews for Alvin and the Chipmunks on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 5+ CGI critters are silly -- but very kid-friendly.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that while this movie is mostly OK for little kids, there's some innuendo and sassy language that children might mimic. Alvin in particular says mildly off-putting remarks like "You're hot" to Dave's date or "She wanted you" to Dave. There's also a fair amount of slapstick/cartoonish violence. But overall, it's a mild kids' flick -- albeit one that's mired in product placement and overcommercialism.
  • Families can talk about how the media generally portrays young superstars. Do you think this movie is a realistic look at what life is like for kid stars? What kinds of pressures do they face? Do you think kids in showbiz get to do whatever they want when they aren't working -- like Ian suggested -- or are they kept to a more "normal" routine, like Dave wanted? Kids: Ask your parents if they prefer the movie Chipmunks or either of the older TV versions.
The good stuff
  • message true3 Positive messages: Dave learns that even chipmunks can become your family. The chipmunks discover that being loved and cared for by Dave is better than being treated like overworked rock stars.
What to watch for
  • violence false3 Violence and scariness: Dave angrily throws his music equipment out his door. A security guard tries to push Dave out of a concert. Cartoonish, slapsticky scenes involving the chipmunks and Dave (like when a jar falls on Dave's head and he passes out).
  • sex false0 Sexy stuff: Female backup singers and partygoers wear tight, revealing clothes. Dave hugs and kisses Claire.
  • language false0 Language: Chipmunks make slightly inappropriate remarks, especially Alvin: "You're hot," "You're such a buzz kill," "She wanted you," etc. Ian calls the chipmunks "rats" and tells them to "make love to the camera" during a photo shoot. They also tell Dave his music "sucks."
  • consumerism false3 Consumerism: Several scenes involve the chipmunks watching SpongeBob SquarePants or eating/heating Van's waffles. Also: Hummer, Porsche, Entertainment Weekly, Spin, Billboard, Apple laptop, Bose speakers, Tobasco sauce, Bob Dylan poster, and various recognizable toys and games.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Nothing notable: A glimpse of adults drinking champagne at the big launch party.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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