Alvin & The Chipmunks (2007/Blu-ray)
Picture:
B Sound: B Extras: C- Film: C-
In the
big commercial surprise of 2007, the relatively inexpensive revival of Alvin & The Chipmunks was expected
to break even since interest in the trio remains high in both nostalgia and
with new child fans. The big shock was
that the film made well over $200 Million in The United States alone and
sideswiped the know-it-alls who thought they understood how franchises and marketing
worked. For 20th Century Fox,
it was one of the years biggest hits in a year that was not bad for them at
all.
Jason Lee
takes over as Dave Seville, the struggling music writer who discovers that a
trio of “adorable little animals” have found their way into his house and can
even sing his music. After being driven
a bit nuts by them (we can understand that one) decides that maybe they could
be the next big thing in music. With the
record industry in such deep trouble, this could be the opportunity of a
lifetime.
Though
this is the best the trio has looked since the 1970s, Director Tim Hill’s film
is flat, formulaic and the Jon Vitti/Will McBobb/Chris Viscardi screenplay is
loaded with missed opportunities and all are responsible for lowest common
denominator humor that is not always child friendly. However, the kids want to see Alvin, Simon
and Theodore, which the film does deliver and that was sufficient enough to
deliver a blockbuster hit.
While the
digital technology will improve by default and Fox will likely pump more bucks
into the next one, which there will definitely be, they are going to need a
much stronger script or this surprise comeback will be short-lived. However, it is nice to see the likable
characters get top rate animation treatment, even if it is CG and it makes up
for over a quarter-century of a dry spell for a franchise that has yet to reach
its potential peak.
The 1080p
AVC @ 18 MBPS 1.85 X 1 image is a mixed bag with digital animation of the title
characters looking good, but unstable, while the live action parts of the frame
and live players play second fiddle and most scenes look manipulated and even
denatured. The DTS HD Master Audio (MA)
Lossless 5.1 mix puts the questionable songs and cartoon sound effects first
and forward, while dialogue is well recorded, the mix can seem awkward and even
lopsided. The combination will not
bother its young audience, but others will have issues.
The only
extras on this 25GB disc include two featurettes: Chip-Chip-Hooray! about the history of the franchise and Hitting The Harmony about their
music. Not exactly anything for
children, but that’s all that could fit, it would seem. Next, the sequel.
- Nicholas Sheffo
