I have watched Bee Movie, The Golden Compass and now, Alvin and the Chipmunks in a short period of time and shall rate the chipmunks as the best of the three. I asked my four years old kid and he too agrees with me. If you are going to make a movie that attracts kids, I suppose you have to ask a kid to tell the truth.

All of us are familiar with the Chipmunks so they don’t need introduction. But to blend them with real humans, that needs something that is not so cliché. I am glad they didn’t make it too cute and hence, both humans and chipmunks sort of have equal roles there. The guy who stars in the movie, Jason Lee is that My name is Earl guy. However, I like the bad guy, Elton-John look-alike more.

Sometimes, these animation movies tend to go overboard with their feel-good feelings and that can leaves a sickening taste when it is overdone. But Alvin and the Chipmunks stop short of being too lovey-dovey. It is not over the top with trying to be funny as well.

The songs are all catchy and it is sort of warm and fuzzy to listen to Funky Town from *my* era, plus that Christmas song and oh boy, I love the ‘Doncha’ song sung in the dishwasher. And the raisin part, that’s funny. And when Alvin inhales helium gas from the balloon, I cannot help but think of Gallivanter at the Together Gather bloggers party.

So, go watch it. A nice movie for the family with a Christmas feel but not too Christmassy and suitable for those who are not too hot about Christmas. After four decades, now only I know their names are Alvin, Theodore and Simon.