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Parents' Guide to

Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Silly threequel is full of pop-culture references and jokes.

Movie G 2011 87 minutes
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 6+

Based on 35 parent reviews

MrAitken
MrAitken Adult
March 15, 2016
age 6+

Concealed Weapons

What I don't understand about this film is why somebody thought it was a good idea to have Alvin and his "parent" argue about whether he was mature enough to go about carrying a knife. Initially he gets it confiscated, then when he proves he can be sensible (on rare occasions), he gets rewarded with the knife back. Not a great message in a children's film I'd say: "Yes, sure, you've proved you can be mature enough to have a shiv. Now off you go to school, but don't chib anyone". I see there's a new sequel out. Presumably Alvin is still a mature sensible lad who still runs about tooled up?
1 person found this helpful.
CrispandCrunch
CrispandCrunch Adult
January 19, 2019
age 2+

awful

most boring movie i ever saw. it is appropriate for all ages, just non recommended whatsoever.
See all 35 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In this third installment of the Alvin and Chipmunks franchise, Dave (Jason Lee) takes the Chipmunks -- Alvin (voiced by Justin Long), Simon (Matthew Gray Gubler), and Theodore (Jesse McCartney) -- and the Chipettes -- Brittany (Christina Applegate), Jeanette (Anna Faris), and Eleanor (Amy Poehler) -- on a Carnival cruise for their family vacation. After a series of cruiseline shenanigans, the Chipmunks and Chipettes wind up overboard and on a deserted island where they meet Zoe (Jenny Slade), who has been a castaway for years and talks to an assortment of sports balls for company. Dave follows the Chipmunks with former boss Ian (David Cross) to attempt a rescue mission.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (35 ):
Kids say (61 ):

Kids aren't overly picky when it comes to movies, so they'll be pleased with chirpy-sounding Chipmunks who sing and dance to covers of hit pop songs. Kids will also live vicariously through the six 'munks as they wreak havoc on the cruise ship and somehow manage to survive under precarious circumstances on a deserted island. Alvin is a prankster with heart; Simon changes (like Buzz Lightyear's Spanish-speaking interlude in Toy Story 3) into a bolder, French version of himself; and Theodore overcomes his fear of a jungle monster.

But parents may find themselves fighting a snooze as all of the "chipwrecked" hijinks unfold on screen. There's little to keep a grown-up's attention here, although audiences familiar with Cast Away will laugh the first time Zoe references her "ball" friends (unfortunately, the joke quickly grows tiresome). And there are a few iffy sequences, like when the Chipettes challenge a trio of Jersey Shore-esque clubgoers to a dance-off -- it's a lot of attitude and finger wagging and "oh no she didn'ts." In the end, you might wish you didn't have to sit through another Chipmunks tale ever again.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the relationship between Dave and the Chipmunks is depicted. How does Alvin learn about the consequences of his behavior?

  • Are the Chipettes too suggestive in their dances and song choices? Would it be different if the characters were human instead of chipmunks?

  • What does Simon learn about his personality after "waking up" from being the more adventurous, flirtatious "French" Simon?

Movie Details

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