JENNY SLATE IN “ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED”

The chipmunks are at it again – bringing mayhem, music and adventure in their latest movie “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked” with the returning cast Jason Lee as Dave Seville,  David Cross as Ian with the voices of Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate and Amy Poehler.

Stranded with the chipmunks and the chipettes in the island is Jenny Slate who plays Zoe.  Upon the group’s unexpected destination to a deserted island from their luxurious cruise – they meet Zoe, a castaway who’ve been in the island years before they’ve arrived. Arriving in their new home is in a way a kind of homecoming for the chipmunks though not necessarily a welcome one.  Being stranded on the island takes the Chipmunks full circle.  When we met them in the first movie, they were wild – living in the forest, foraging for nuts – and that all came very naturally for them.  Then, they became domesticated, famous, pampered, and civilized.  Now, finding themselves on a deserted island after all that domestication, they cannot figure out how to find a nut, or forage for anything but room service.”

On their first encounter, Theodore mistakes Zoe for a monster.  But soon finds out that the monster is a young woman whose island pals include  ‘Spalding,’ ‘Calloway,’ ‘Rawlings’, ‘Dunlop’ and ‘Nerf -- respectively, a basketball, golf ball, baseball, tennis ball, and nerf football.  She enjoys extended chats with her anthropomorphized sports gear, all of whom have faces presumably drawn by Zoe.   The inadvertent discovery of some long-buried treasure adds to the dynamic – and danger – between Zoe and the Chipmunks/Chipettes.

Talented actress Jenny Slate joins the cast as the mysterious island dweller Zoe.  “Zoe was flying cargo jets, her plane crashed on the island, she’s been here for years and has become a little crazy because of being by herself. She’s managed to create a family of friends with the objects that she had on her plane,” says Slate. ”Zoe is a really cool adventurous person, but she is definitely feeling the effects of being alone in a jungle on a desert island for nine years. I see her as a combination of rough and tough and incredibly sensitive. She is not who she appears to be. I don’t want to give it away, but she’s trying to find her place in the world and to assert that she is worth something and there’s something on the island that she feels proves her worth.”“I was really impressed by the scale of the production.  When I walked onto the set, my heart beat faster because it reminded me of those classic family movies, like ‘Swiss Family Robinson.’  And the story – domesticated, fancy chipmunks being stranded on a crazy, mysterious island! It’s eternally exciting!” Slate shares.

Jenny Slate is a former cast member of Saturday Night Live.  In 2009, Jenny presented her one-lady show, Jenny Slate:  Dead Millionaire, to sold-out audiences in New York and Los Angeles, and revived it at UCB in 2010. Last season, Jenny joined the Saturday Night Live cast as featured performer and created such memorable characters like “Tina Tina,” the doorbell saleslady.  Before joining SNL, Jenny was cast in the HBO comedy series “Bored to Death,” as Stella, the stoner girlfriend to Jason Schwartzman. Jenny will soon be seen in “This Means War” with Reese Witherspoon, Tom Hardy and Chris Pine to be released by Twentieth Century Fox.

“Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked is from 20^th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros. nationwide.

Alvin and The Chipmunks 3:Chipwrecked

Story: The singing rodents are back. This time, their adventure takes them to the seas.

Review: I used to watch the original series of the same name when I was a kid and who could forget their old but popular Christmas song. I even had a tape of their album singing themes from the movies and television. I already  outgrew Alvin and the Chipmunks so I never had the opportunity to watch it when it first became a live action movie with computer graphics.

Now that I have a niece, I got excited because I haven't watch any movie with her that she can appreciate. She is only three years old. She was also excited after seeing the trailer in television plugs and she was even singing the Lady Gaga song with a chipmunk voice.

Children of the same age as my niece has a short attention span. I was not only observing my niece's reaction but also mine as well. It would be expected that the movie is intended for children as I assumed since I haven't able to watch the previous Chipmunk movies. But I realized that the movie is also intended for the whole family which was never done in the cartoon series.

The Chipmunks are popular because of the songs they interpreted and the trouble making antics of Alvin and followed by the foster parent Dave giving his trademark yell, "ALLVVVIIIINNNNN!!!!!!" Unlike the cartoon series, there are serious moments that anyone can relate and there are lessons about family and reconciliation. The movie has no violence whatsoever to assure that it's a child-friendly movie. It would be enjoyable if you watch with the family especially if you have children. Alvin and The Chipmunks 3 opens January 8 in Philippine cinemas and is distributed by 20^th Century Fox Philippines.

ALVIN AND CHIPETTES STEP INTO THE WILD

The Munks are about to unleash their third grandest and most spectacular adventure in “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked” where the vacationing Chipmunks and Chipettes are turning a luxury cruise liner into their personal playground, until they become ‘chipwrecked’ on a remote island.  As the ‘Munks and Chipettes scheme to find their way home, they accidentally discover their new turf is not as deserted as it seems.

            The new home leads to character-changing adventures, on a scale new to the boys and to the “Alvin and the Chipmunks” films. As the story opens, The Chipmunks, Chipettes, and their eternally beleaguered guardian, Dave Seville, are en route, on a luxury cruise liner, to the International Music Awards.  Alvin, of course, cannot resist wreaking havoc on this ultimate playground.  He attempts to steer the vessel, takes over the hot tubs, and dons a tuxedo – secret agent style – to work the baccarat and blackjack tables.

            Reprising his role as Dave Seville is Jason Lee, “As always, the operative words for Alvin are ‘chaos’ and ‘action.’  It’s his first time out of the city, and he wants to make the most of it.  Dave isn’t happy about Alvin’s shipboard antics – and lets him know it. It’s not easy to be sympathetic, likable and charismatic when you’re screaming ‘ALVIIIIIN!’ so loudly you’re breaking windows around you!” Lee says of their latest adventure.

 “Being stranded on the island takes the Chipmunks full circle.  When we met them in the first movie, they were wild – living in the forest, foraging for nuts – and that all came very naturally for them.  Then, they became domesticated, famous, pampered, and civilized.  Now, finding themselves on a deserted island after all that domestication, they cannot figure out how to find a nut, or forage for anything but room service,” shares producer Ross Bagdasarian on the chipmunks temporary new home. 

 Key to the movie’s theme is about the Chipmunks growing up, and how hard it is for a parent – in this case, Dave – to let the chipmunks be independent.  Director Mike Mitchell adds, “But kids (and chipmunks) are going to grow up and they’re going to be independent.  It’s inevitable, of course.  I think that idea is going to resonate with kids and parents.  Everyone can relate to the story, even though it’s a singing/dancing/adventure-seeking Chipmunk movie.  And, who hasn’t gone on family vacations?  They’re wonderful nightmares!”

From 20^th Century Fox - “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked” opens January 8 nationwide in Metro Manila, Cebu, Bohol, Davao, Pampanga, Angeles, Baguio, Bulacan, Iloilo, Cagayan De Oro, Bacolod, GenSan, Laguna, Pangasinan, Naga, Laoag, Tacloban, Dumaguete and Batangas.