HEADLINES:
R/€ 
Oil 'Munks squeak by - again
December 24, 2009 Edition 1
Michael Rechtshaffen
**
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS 2: THE SQUEAKQUEL. Directed by Betty Thomas, with Jason Lee, David Cross, Zachary Levi, Wendie Malick, Kathryn Joosten and the voices of Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jess McCartney, Christina Applegate, Amy Poehler and Anna Faris.
Review: MICHAEL RECHTSHAFFEN
THE tune selection might be different, but otherwise it's the same old song with Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.
Having successfully made the full-length computer generated imagery (CGI) transition with their 2007 smash hit, which grossed more than R2.6 billion worldwide, Alvin and the boys apparently had nothing left to prove.
That obviously shouldn't deter families looking for a little harmless holiday distraction, but it would have been nice if more of an effort had been made for their hard-earned money. Would, say, even 3D have been too much to ask?
Instead, the concept of new and different takes the form of the Chipettes. The chipper, but ambitious Destiny's Child-like girl group - they made their debut back in 1983 for the Alvin and the Chipmunks' animated series - provides potential competition, not to mention love interests, for the 'Munks.
Anna Faris, Christina Applegate and Amy Poehler do the vocal honours, while Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney are again on hand to voice Alvin, Simon and Theodore, respectively.
Also back is Jason Lee, as the hapless Dave Seville.
David Cross returns as the conniving, ex-record exec Ian, and Zachary Levi steps in as Seville's slacker cousin Toby, but they're slumming it in their roles.
That leaves those chipmunks to do the heavy lifting, and they handily squeak by with their appearances seamlessly integrated into those live-action sequences, thanks to that ever-improving CG technology. - Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
© 1999 - 2010 Cape Times & Independent Online (Pty) Ltd. All rights reserved.