Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked Parent Guide
This film is pure cartoon fluff that may appeal to very young audiences but will likely leave parents wishing they were on a Carnival cruise instead of watching the singing rodents.
Parent Movie Review
Our friends have squirrels in their neighborhood—live ones that scamper up trees and jump precariously from one limb to another. It only takes a few minutes of watching their daredevil antics to know that squirrels (or their chipmunk cousins) are not the kind of critters you would take on a cruise ship—even if they can talk.
So why songwriter David Seville (Jason Lee) decides to invite Alvin, Simon and Theodore (voices of Justin Long, Matthew Gray Bubler and Jesse McCartney) on a boat trip along with the Chipettes (voices of Anna Faris, Christina Applegate and Amy Poehler) is beyond reason. (As if there were anything reasonable about a movie with tiny talking mammals.)
Within hours of boarding the luxury liner, Alvin is responsible for flying the furry little friends overboard. Then they wash up on a tropical island where they meet another castaway, Zoe (Jenny Slate), who’s story about being an abandoned UPS employee is a direct pinch from the Cast Away storyline.
Unfortunately Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked likely has to give the nod to other scripts because on its own, there’s not much. The film is more like a long music video of popular songs including Lady Gaga’s Born This Way anthem and Katy Perry’s Fireworks. The plodding plot only begins to boil when an active volcano threatens to blow its top before the four-legged characters, as well as Dave and their former agent Ian (David Cross), can complete their rescue raft.
Alvin’s inability to obey rules, a few moments of peril, some song lyrics and a brief veiled anatomical joke are the biggest concerns parents may have with this animation. But a lack of content doesn’t necessarily equal an engaging story. This film is pure cartoon fluff that may appeal to very young audiences but will likely leave parents wishing they were on a Carnival cruise instead of watching the singing rodents.
Directed by Mike Mitchell. Starring Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney Jason Lee, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate, Amy Poehler, David Cross. Running time: 88 minutes. Theatrical release December 16, 2011. Updated July 17, 2017About author
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
Rating & Content Info
Why is Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked rated G? Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked is rated G by the MPAA
Violence: Characters fire an object at a woman and hit her in the head. A man slips and falls on a liquid Alvin has poured on the floor. A character repeatedly disobeys. A poisonous spider bites a character. Girls challenge others to a dance-off. A character burns his foot and another is hurt in a zip line accident. A man is burned by a hot liquid. Moments of peril include an active volcano, a narrow bridge over a gorge and an imagined forest monster.
Sexual Content: A veiled comment is made about male anatomy.
Language: Brief name-calling is included in the script.
Alcohol / Drug Use: Alcohol is served with dinner and in a casino.
Other: An underage character goes gambling in a casino.
Page last updated July 17, 2017
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked Parents' Guide
How does Alvin’s disregard for rules affect everyone else? What does he learn about responsibility because of his decision?
How do the chipmunks describe themselves? How do we limit ourselves when we use one characteristic (such as beautiful, smart, responsible) to define ourselves? What does each of these little individuals learn about themselves while on the island?
How many times does Dave yell “Alvin” in this movie?
Home Video
The most recent home video release of Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked movie is March 27, 2012. Here are some details…
Home Video Notes: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
Release Date: 27 March 2012
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip- Wrecked is releasing on DVD and Blu-ray on March 17, 2012.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked Single Disc DVD includes:
- Feature Film
- Munk Music & Dance Machine: Vacation, Trouble, Whip My Hair, Party Rock Anthem, We Speak No Americano / Conga, Kumbay, Survivor, Real Wild Child, Bad Romance, Hello, Say Hey, S.O.S, Vacation (Reprise), Born This Way / Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now / Firework, Party Rock Anthem (Reprise), We Have Arrived.
- Munking Movies in Paradise Featurette
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked on 2-Disc DVD and Blu-ray (Blu-ray + DVD+ Digital Copy) offer all of the above, plus:
- Going Overboard with The Chipmunks
- Everybody Munk Now!
- Alan Tudyk, Chipmunk Appearance
- Music Videos / Sing-A-Longs: Vacation, Survivor, Bad Romance.
- Fox Music Channel presents “Growing up Alvin”
- Fox Movie Channel presents “In Character with Jason Lee”
- Extended Scenes: Walk The Plank, Brittany’s What If…, Ian’s Hungry, I Don’t Spank Them, No, No, No…, Zoe’s Map, Nowhere Else To Go.
- Promotional Fun Featurettes: Survival Tips, Rules, Theatrical Trailers
- Blu-ray Only: Chipwrecked: Coloring with Chipmunks App
Related home video titles:
The singing trio’s first two movies are: Alvin and the Chipmunks and Alvin and the Chipmunks: the Squeakquel. Anna Faris also has brush with talking forest creatures in Yogi Bear and Justin long lends his voice to another animated animal in Alpha and Omega.