Singing chipmunk sensations Alvin (voiced by Justin Long), Simon (voiced by Matthew Gray Gubler) and Theodore (Jesse McCartney) are thrown for a loop when their caretaker Dave (Jason Lee) insists they start attending High School. Making matters worse, while he’s in the hospital recovering from injuries incurred during the trio’s last concert they’re being babysat by hopeless adult adolescent Toby (Zachary Levi), the guy incapable of caring for himself let alone three irrepressible children.

The Chipettes take the stage in 20th Century Fox's Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel

Wait. Why am I writing a plot synopsis for something as threadbare and as obvious as Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel? I mean, it’s not like it’s necessary. The bottom line is that if you’re under the age of 10 or you somehow enjoyed the god-awful 2007 original then you are more likely than not to enjoy this one, too. It’s more of the same and then some, animated hyperactive hysteria all sung to music played at an octave way higher than normal.

That’s a little unfair. While it’s no secret I hated the first film (it merited a worst-of-the-year honorable mention), this one isn’t quite so detestable. The script is moderately less odious, the morals it imparts a lot more commendable and the humor not quite so bottom of the barrel. Adding Chipettes Eleanor (voiced by Amy Poehler), Jeanette (voiced by Anna Faris) and Brittany (voiced by Christina Applegate) certainly helps matters a great deal, while old pros David Cross (who also stole scenes the first time around) and Wendie Malick do just enough to make the majority of their scenes palatable.

My guess is that thanks for this goes directly to director Betty Thomas. While still a long way from her heyday helming Private Parts, HBO’s The Late Shift and The Brady Bunch Movie she’s still competent enough behind the camera that this one never feels as pointless and juvenile as it obviously is. She manages to create a balance between the amusingly silly and the annoyingly idiotic the first one spectacularly failed to achieve, and for those open to its whimsical cartoon charms there’s plenty here to enjoy.

Just don’t count me as one of those open to being charmed. I flat-out admit that this movie is not my cup of tea, and while I was never in physical pain sitting in the theater watching it that doesn’t mean I wasn’t still counting the minutes until I could get home and watch some college basketball. As Saturday morning experiences go, this isn’t one I would care to do again, nothing here striking my fancy in a way that could be considered anything even close to meaningful.

But, like I said, those who enjoyed the first film are going to fall all over themselves enjoying the sequel, and little kids (and I do mean little kids) are probably going to be doing back flips in the aisles because they’re having so much fun. While not my particular cup of tea Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel for its target audience it more than gets the job done, just don’t expect me to sing its praises any louder than that. 

Film Rating: êê (out of 4)  

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