Alvin and the Chipmunks

***Alvin and the Chipmunks*** is a 2007 American live action/computer animated musical comedy film directed by Tim Hill. Based on the characters of the same name created by Ross Bagdasarian Sr., the film stars Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney, with Jason Lee, David Cross, Cameron Richardson, and Jane Lynch in supporting roles.

It was released worldwide on December 14, 2007, by 20th Century Fox and produced by Fox 2000 Pictures and Regency Enterprises. *Alvin and the Chipmunks* grossed $361 million worldwide on a budget of $60 million and was the seventh-best-selling DVD of 2008.

*Alvin and the Chipmunks* is the first live action/animated film starring Alvin and the Chipmunks since *Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks* was released in 2003, as that film features puppetry used for the Chipmunks and this film features computer animation used for them. The film was followed by three sequels: *Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel* (2009), *Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked* (2011), and *Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip* (2015).

## Plot

A tree that three young chipmunk brothers Alvin, Simon, and Theodore (Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney) live in is cut down and driven to Los Angeles after JETT Records purchases it as a Christmas tree. There, struggling songwriter and composer David Seville (Jason Lee) has his latest demo rejected by JETT Records’ chief executive, Ian Hawke (David Cross), his college roommate, who suggests that Dave give up writing songs. The Chipmunks hop into a basket of muffins that Dave stole from one of Ian's coworkers, and follow Dave home. Once there, Dave discovers the Chipmunks and kicks them out of the house, only to hear them sing "Only You (And You Alone)" and "Funkytown." Dave then makes a deal with the Chipmunks to sing songs he writes in exchange for shelter. Later, when Dave tries to present the Chipmunks to Ian, they fail to sing due to stage fright. The day worsens as Dave is dismissed from his advertising job due to the Chipmunks having ruined his presentation. While hosting dinner with former girlfriend Claire (Cameron Richardson), Dave struggles to hide the Chipmunks after Alvin attempts to create a romantic atmosphere, making Claire uncomfortable and causing her to leave. To make it up to him, the Chipmunks go to Ian's lavish mansion where they sing Dave's song to him, prompting Ian to sign a record

deal.

The Chipmunks quickly become an international success. When Dave expresses concern for their well-being and insists that the Chipmunks are too young to handle fame, Ian convinces them that Dave is holding them back. After a misunderstanding, the Chipmunks choose to live with Ian, who is only interested in profiting off the Chipmunks’ success. Once the Chipmunks arrive at Ian’s mansion, he spoils them with candy and toys, and they set off on a nationwide coast-to-coast tour, in which Ian decides to take advantage of their naïveté by overworking them constantly. Frustrated by what Ian has done to the Chipmunks, Dave decides to infiltrate their concert to reunite with them. Before their tour can begin, a veterinarian explains to Ian that the Chipmunks' voices have been worn out due to exhaustion and suggests that they take a long rest, but as Ian doesn't want to cancel the concert, he advises the Chipmunks to lip-sync. With Claire's help, Dave is allowed into the concert; the Chipmunks see Dave and decide to sabotage the show. Ian locks the Chipmunks in a cage and prepares to take them on their world tour, escaping in his limousine with Dave in pursuit, but the Chipmunks have already escaped to Dave's car, replacing themselves with stuffed animal decoys. Dave happily admits that he loves the Chipmunks like his own family. Meanwhile, Ian discovers that the Chipmunks have escaped, costing him both his career and his fortune.