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Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox film
| name = Alvin and the Chipmunks:
The Squeakquel
| image = Chipmunks2squeakuel.jpg
| alt = The three titular chipmunks are posing, with the top of the poster reading "the squeakquel" while the billing block and "christmas" release window sit at the bottom
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Betty Thomas
| writer =
| based_on =
| producer =
| starring =
| cinematography = Anthony B. Richmond
| editing = Matthew Friedman
| music = David Newman
| studio =
| distributor = 20th Century Fox
| released =
| runtime = 88 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget = $70 million
| gross = $443.1 million
}}
'Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel' is a 2009 American live-action/computer animated musical comedy film directed by Betty Thomas. It is the sequel to the original 2007 film. The film stars Zachary Levi, David Cross and Jason Lee. Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney return as the Chipmunks from the previous film, and Amy Poehler, Anna Faris and Christina Applegate voice the new characters, the Chipettes.
The film was written by Jon Vitti, Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, distributed by 20th Century Fox, and produced by Fox 2000 Pictures, Regency Enterprises and Bagdasarian Company. It was released in theaters on December 23, 2009 by 20th Century Fox to generally negative reviews from critics, grossing $443.1 million on a $70 million budget. Two sequels were later released: 'Chipwrecked 'in 2011 and 'The Road Chip 'in 2015.
Plot
David Seville is seriously injured when a cardboard cutout of Alvin sends him flying across the stage during a charity benefit concert in Paris, France. While he recuperates in a French hospital, Dave asks his aunt, Jackie, to look after the Chipmunks, Alvin, Simon, and Theodore. Arrangements are also made for them to attend West Eastman High School. After Jackie also has an accident at the airport, the Chipmunks are left in the care of Toby, Jackie's grandson and Dave's cousin.
Former JETT Records chief executive Ian Hawke, who is broke and destitute, lives in the companys basement. Three cute chipmunk girls: Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor, a.k.a. 'The Chipettes', emerge from a FedEx package. Ian recruits and hires the Chipettes in an effort to resurrect his career.
While at school, Ryan and Xander angrily accused the Chipmunks for being attracted to their girlfriends until they threatened to kill them. They chase the Chipmunks around the school, giving Simon a swirlie in a toilet and poke at Theodore's backside. The Chipmunks are summoned to the principal's office after attacking the jocks. The principal, Dr. Rubin, who is a fan who saw them in Denver, Colorado, enlists their help to raise money for the school's music program by participating in a contest. Ian is shocked to find the Chipmunks on the front page of his newspaper. After he reads a story about them representing the school, he quickly enrolls the Chipettes at the same school.
When the Chipmunks meet the Chipettes, both groups are smitten with each other. However, Brittany reminds the girls that Ian said the Chipmunks betrayed him and are untrustworthy. Alvin and the boys struggle to make it through a rehearsal because of their new crushes. Ian smugly walks in and introduces his new stars, the Chipettes. The boys are shocked to see the girls are working with Ian, and a rivalry emerges when Ian convinces Dr. Rubin to let the Chipettes compete in the Battle of the Bands. Rubin sets up a concert for the two groups to compete to represent the school.
Alvin becomes popular with the jocks and joins the football team, not realizing that the next game is during the concert. At the concert, Theodore and Simon tell the fans that Alvin failed to show up, and they cannot perform, leading to a victory for the Chipettes. Alvin arrives after the concert to an empty auditorium, and Brittany calls him out for his lack of responsibility. Alvin returns home and unsuccessfully tries apologizing to his brothers. Theodore runs away to the Los Angeles Zoo the next day. Alvin and Simon save him from a Wedge-tailed eagle, the three make it out alive.
Soon, the Chipettes are hired but learn they are to perform as an opening act for a Britney Spears concert on the same night as the school contest. Ian convinces them to call off the battle and perform at the concert, but refuses to give the same credit to Jeanette and Eleanor that he gives Brittany, who demands that they all perform together or not at all, until Ian threatens to send them to a barbecue restaurant unless they perform.
Before the Battle of the Bands, Alvin receives a panicked phone call from the Chipettes, who tell him that Ian has locked them in a cage. Alvin races off to rescue them while Simon tells Jeanette how to pick the lock over the phone. Simon and Theodore are on the verge of going out to perform just by themselves until the others arrive just in time to perform at the contest. The Chipmunks and the Chipettes perform together for the first time and win the money for the music program. Dave, who had left the hospital upon learning that Toby was looking after the Chipmunks, returns during the contest, happy to see the Chipmunks again and allows the Chipettes to stay with them. Meanwhile, Ian sets up for the girls when he attempts to imitate the Chipettes, only for the security guards to throw him out of the arena and in a dumpster, prior to the end credits.
Cast
Voice cast
* Justin Long as Alvin Seville (voice)** Ross Bagdasarian Jr. as Alvin Seville (singing voice)
* Christina Applegate as Brittany (voice)
** Janice Karman as Brittany (singing voice)
* Matthew Gray Gubler as Simon Seville (voice)
** Steve Vining as Simon Seville (singing voice)
* Anna Faris as Jeanette (voice)
** Janice Karman as Jeanette (singing voice)
* Jesse McCartney as Theodore Seville (voice)
** Janice Karman as Theodore Seville (singing voice)
* Amy Poehler as Eleanor (voice)
** Janice Karman as Eleanor (singing voice)
Live-action cast
* Zachary Levi as Toby Seville* David Cross as Ian Hawke
* Jason Lee as David "Dave" Seville
* Wendie Malick as Dr. Rubin
* Anjelah Johnson as Julie Ortega
* Kevin G. Schmidt as Ryan Edwards
* Chris Warren, Jr. as Xander
* Bridgit Mendler as Becca Kingston
* Alexandra Shipp as Valentina
* Aimee Carrero as Emily
* Brando Eaton as Jeremy Smith
* Kathryn Joosten as Aunt Jackie Seville
Cameos
* Charice Pempengco as herself* Honor Society as themselves
* Quest Crew as Li'l Rosero Dancers
* Eric Bauza as Digger (voice)
* Sean Astin as Meerkat Manor Narrator (voice)
Production
Originally Dave Seville was written to have a larger role in the film, however the role was reduced due to Jason Lees filming schedule with the fourth and final season of 'My Name Is Earl' during pre-production of 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel' in 2008, most of his scenes were rewritten and Lee's role being replaced with Zachary Levis character Toby Seville.
Reception
Box office
On its opening Wednesday, the film opened to #1 with $18.8 million and finished the weekend at #3 behind Fox's own 'Avatar' and Warner Bros' 'Sherlock Holmes' with $48.9 million and a $75.6 million 5-day total, eclipsing its budget in only 5 days. In the US, its the 9th highest-grossing film of 2009, and on March 7, 2010, it out-grossed its predecessor to become the second highest-grossing film to never hit #1 behind 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'. 'The Squeakquel' ended its run with $219.6 million in the US and $223.5 million overseas for a total of $443.1 million worldwide.Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 20% based on reviews from 84 critics and an average rating of 3.88/10. The site's consensus is that, "This 'Squeakquel' may entertain the kiddies, but it's low on energy and heavily reliant on slapstick humor." On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 41 out of 100 based on 20 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade A on scale of A+ to F.
Owen Gleiberman of 'Entertainment Weekly' graded the film a C-, asking, "Will kids eat up this cutely fractious claptrap? Of course they will. They'll eat up whatever you put in front of them. But that doesn't make 'The Squeakquel' good for them." Sue Robinson from 'Radio Times' said that "even if there's little here for older viewers to enjoy, youngsters will love the slapstick action and catchy soundtrack."
Joe Leydon, writing for 'Variety', called it "a frenetic but undeniably funny follow-up that offers twice the number of singing-and-dancing rodents in another seamless blend of CGI and live-action elements." Betsy Sharkey of the 'Los Angeles Times' commented on Betty Thomas' direction, saying that she brings "a light campy touch as she did in 1995's 'The Brady Bunch Movie'."
After the film had garnered $112 million worldwide at the box office over its first weekend, some critics were disappointed that it was more popular than other movies in wide release aimed at a family audience.
Richard Corliss of 'Time' wrote that families "could have taken the cherubs to 'The Princess and the Frog' or 'Disney's A Christmas Carol', worthy efforts that, together, took in only about a fifth of the Chipmunks' revenue in the same period".
Accolades
* 2010 Kids' Choice Awards: Favorite Movie (winner)
* '2010 BAFTA Children's Awards': BAFTA Kids' Vote - Feature Film (winner)
Soundtrack
'Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack' is the soundtrack based on the film. It was released on December 1, 2009. Bands Honor Society and Queensberry, along with Filipino singer Charice, were all featured artists for both the movie and soundtrack.
Track listing
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Marketing
Video game
'Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel' is a video game based on the movie. It was released on December 1, 2009 (the same day as the movie's soundtrack) for the Wii and Nintendo DS.
Home media
'Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel' was released on DVD/Blu-ray/digital copy on March 30, 2010 in North America, on April 12, 2010 in the United Kingdom and on June 2, 2010 in Australia.Sequels
Shortly after the film's release on DVD and Blu-ray, Fox and Regency had announced that 'Alvin and the Chipmunks 3D' was scheduled to be released on December 16, 2011. The title was then changed to 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked'. On January 22, 2011, Fox 2000 Pictures started production on the film during a Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Dream ship. Filming took place primarily on the ship's upper, open decks with scenes featuring actor Jason Lee (reprising his role as David Seville) and the antics of The Chipmunks in the Carnival Dream's outdoor recreation areas. Stops on the itinerary included Cozumel, Roatan, Belize and Costa Maya (which provided tropical backdrops for many of the film's shipboard scenes). A fourth film, 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip', was released on December 18, 2015.
References
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