Alvin and the Chipmunks (film)

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 Jason Lee, David Cross, and Cameron Richardson, while Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, and Jesse McCartney, play the Chipmunks.

20th Century Fox released it worldwide on December 14, and is 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 was the first live-action/animated film starring Alvin and the Chipmunks. 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 live in, is cut down and driven to Los Angeles after JETT Records purchases it as a Christmas Tree. Songwriter and composer Dave Seville has his latest demo rejected by their chief executive, Ian Hawke, 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 because of 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, 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 successful. When Dave, concerned for their well-being, 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, whose only interest is 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 exploit their naïveté by overworking them constantly. Frustrated by what Ian has done to the Chipmunks, Dave decides to infiltrate their concert at the Orpheum Theatre 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 Ian, refusing to issue refunds, 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, though the Chipmunks have already escaped into Dave's car, replacing themselves with stuffed animal decoys. Dave considers the Chipmunks his own family, while Ian uncovers the escape, which costs him both his career and his fortune.

Production

Development

Ross Bagdasarian Jr, the son of Alvin and the Chipmunks creater Ross Bagdasarian Sr. who revived the franchise after his father's death, dreamed of making a live-action *Alvin* film since 1997. On September 17 2004, Fox 2000 Pictures, 20th Century Fox, and Regency Enterprises announced that they would create a live-action computer-animated film starring Alvin and the Chipmunks. On April 17 2005, The Simpsons writer Jon Vitti was revealed to be writing the screenplay. On January 24 2007, it was announced that Tim Hill was in talks with Fox to direct the film.

Release

The first poster for *Alvin and the Chipmunks* was revealed online on July 4, 2007. Later that month, Fox launched the official website for *Alvin and the Chipmunks* with only a trailer and synopsis; Games were added later on. In an August 2007 survey of 750 American teens ran by eCRUSH and OTX, *Alvin and the Chipmunks*, alongside *Saw IV*, *National Treasure: Book of Secrets*, *Mama's Boy*, *Fred Claus*, *I Am Legend*, and *Enchanted*, were the most anticipated films of the 2007 fall and winter seasons in the group.