4.5 | / 10 |
Users | 3.3 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.3 |
Chipmunks ahoy! It's a tidal wave of toe-tapping music and unfurgettable fun for the whole family as Alvin and the Chipmunks return in their greatest adventure yet! While on vacation aboard a luxury cruise liner, Alvin, Simon, Theodore and the Chipettes can't help rocking the boat with their unique brand of 'munk mischief. But things get really squeaky when the gang winds up stranded on a remote island - and they soon discover their new tropical playground is not as deserted as it seems. Subtitles: English, French, Spanish. "Munk Music & Dance Machine", "Munking Movies in Paradise".
Starring: Jason Lee, David Cross, Jenny Slate, Justin Long, Matthew Gray GublerFamily | 100% |
Comedy | 83% |
Animation | 75% |
Musical | 28% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kbps)
BDInfo
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy (on disc)
DVD copy
BD-Live
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Yes, there's a third Alvin and the Chipmunks movie, yes, it's called Chipwrecked--which is only marginally a better title than The Squeakquel--and yes, the franchise is now officially as stale as an opened box of forgotten crackers that's been sitting for years in some dark dank cupboard. And yet, this latest singing rodent adventure has grossed over $300 million in ticket sales worldwide, proof positive that the big studios will keep slinging out unimaginative "family" fare so long as parents keep schlepping their kids to the multiplex to see it. Now, I don't want to be the guy that rags on children's movies for being immature--there's definitely a place for juvenile goofiness--but I just think these kinds of films could be so much better. The best kids' movies stimulate the imagination and prompt feelings of awe and wonder and even a little fear; in contrast, these recent Alvin and the Chipmunks films distill the worst in pop culture, pitch-shift it until it's unbearably shrill, and wrap it in a pre-fab CGI package. Kids eat it up, but then again, left to their own devices, kids will eat dirt on the playground or cake for breakfast. They don't know any better. And Chipwrecked is very much the movie equivalent of cake for breakfast--all sugar and no substance.
Like it's predecessor, The Squeakquel, Chipwrecked washes up on Blu-ray with a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that's bright, crisp, ultra- colorful, and all-around easy on the eyes. Given the amount of CGI that has to be interposed into live-action environments, you'd assume these movies would be shot digitally, but they've all actually been 35mm productions. You'll notice an even layer of grain over every shot, and though it's not always seamless, it's clear that care has been taken to add back film noise over the CG inserts to make them blend better. The level of clarity in the image stops well short of stunning, but there's plenty of high definition detail on display, both in the textures of the actors' clothing and faces and the fur and costumes of the CGI chipmunks. (I seems to me like the image might be kept slightly soft intentionally so the 'munks don't stand out as much.) Not surprisingly--this is a kid's movie, after all--color is vivid and cheery, with the chipmunks' outfits popping nicely off the green jungle foliage. And while there are times when black levels seem a bit washed out, contrast is even-keeled, with no crushed shadows or overblown highlights. I didn't spot any blatant compression-related issues, either.
Let's set aside the fact that shrill, pitch-shifted chipmunk voices are unavoidably ear-grating. Otherwise, Chipwrecked's lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track sounds great, with some surprisingly beefy effects, frequent real channel engagement, and consistent clarity. I knocked The Squeakquel down a mark in the audio department for not using the surround speakers as often as it could've, but Chipwrecked mostly remedies that wrong. Along with ocean-y ambience--foghorns and seagulls, lapping waves and the crash of a waterfall--the rears broadcast all kinds of directional effects, usually related to chipmunk hijinks. Alvin swings on a vine through the space behind your head. A volcano blasts, sending chunks of rocky debris spraying in every direction. There are various swooshes and cross-channel movements. It's all handled well, and the effects have plenty of punch and depth. (Especially that erupting volcano.) And then, of course, there's the chipmunk-ified pop music, which sounds as good as it's going to considering how processed it is. My sole concern is that sometimes it's difficult to make out what the chipmunks are actually singing, since their voices are so thin and high and have a tendency to get buried somewhat in the mix. Otherwise, no problems here. The disc includes optional English SDH and Spanish subtitles, along with an English Descriptive Audio track and Spanish and French Dolby Digital 5.1 dubs.
Is Chipwrecked a cynical studio cash-grab with no raison d'etre beyond suckering families just looking for some fun, wholesome entertainment? Absolutely. And in most ways, it's a miserably pointless, bottom-of-the-barrel-scraping experience. But as always with this kind of film, it comes down to one question--will children enjoy it? And I'll tentatively say yes, providing they belong to the very young and undiscriminating 8-and- under crowd. Chipwrecked is shrill, over-caffeinated, and will drive most parents out of the living room with their fingers plugged in their ears, but its hijinks are non-stop enough to keep even the most ADD-afflicted kid occupied. And parents, console yourself with the knowledge that most kid movie franchises cap off at a trilogy. If you're lucky, there'll be no Alvin and the Chipmunks 4: Squeak 'n' Roll. (Knock on wood.) Recommended only for the littlest li'l ones and parents with noise-canceling headphones or a ready supply of cotton wadding.
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