‘Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel’

The story in the “Squeakquel” covers more than high school turf, it also offers some lessons on family and loyalty, not to mention the perils of success. It’s just that and I didn’t imagine ever writing this the chipmunk milieu is gone astray in this film. Two years after Alvin and the Chipmunks were re-introduced to at least two generations unfamiliar with their previous work, garnering a hit movie, the Chipmunks are back for more, remaining their irrepressibly cute selves, mostly. Dave (Jason Lee) is laid up in Paris by an Alvin-caused accident, so his nephew Toby (Zachary Levi) moves in to take care of the boys. Toby, a video-game freak, is ill-prepared for guardian duties, though he means well. The Chipmunks begin high school, where their wide-eyed innocence is no match for bullies and other adolescent obstacles, and before long Alvin has fallen for some of the trappings, threatening to betray the ever-loyal Simon and Theodore. Arch nemesis Ian (David Cross), humiliated by his own hubris in the first film, is returned, this time promoting three singing-girl chipmunks, as Ian looks to steal the commercial thunder of Alvin and gang. These new chipmunks, voiced by Amy Poehler, Christina Applegate and Anna Faris, are potential love interests, but their affections for the Chipmunks are blocked by the conniving Ian. These criss-crossing stories all play out in loud, aggressive ways, with plenty of pratfalls, sight gags and predictable scenarios, many of them mean or embarrassing. There are also plenty of familiar songs sung Chipmunk-style, and most of those are entertaining. Not so this Squeakquel as a whole, too concerned with lazy stunts and stock humor to muster much chirpy magic.