When the movie starts off with an oh-soooooo-cute song, you know they’ve set the tune for the next 90 minutes. Alvin and the Chipmunks is all about 3 singing tree-dwellers, so don’t go expecting a ground-breaking story. Just enjoy the fuzzy cuteness and the squeaky voices.

Fifty years after Ross Bagdasarian created Alvin, Simon and Theodore, Bagdasarian Junior brings the Chipmunks to the silver screen. And while they don’t disappoint (the mix of live action and CGI is seamless — they blend in beautifully), they don’t ‘wow’ you either.

In a spate of unfortunate circumstances, the Chipmunks Alvin (voiced by Long), Simon (Gubler) and Theodore (Mc Cartney) find themselves in the house of down-on-his-luck songwriter Dave Seville (Lee). When Seville finds out that the Chipmunks can sing in a 3-part harmony, he decides to use them to get a record deal. However, he warms up to their crazy ways and loving nature and must act like a protective dad before sleazy exec Ian (Cross) exploits their talents.

The movie screams out family love from the rooftops and is filled with ‘aaawwwwww’ moments, especially with the chubby furball Theodore. But lukewarm performances by Jason Lee, David Cross and eye-candy Cameron Richardson — the only live actors in the movie — do little to take the movie forward. At times, the actors seem to be staring into space instead of at the Chipmunks — a point director Hill seemed to have missed. Even screenplay by John Vitti, Will Mc Robb and Chris Viscardi try a little too hard to be funny. Sample this: “Chipmunks don’t talk” “Well, our lips are moving and words are coming out”.

In the end, you’ve got to hand it to the Chipmunks.

The movie solely rests on the singing tonsils of the trio. The new songs and even the remixed “Witch Doctor” and “Chipmunk Song” are catchy and will leave a smile on your face.

If you’ve grown up with Alvin and the Chipmunks, you just can’t deny your children this treat!