Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked

Cast: Anna Faris, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney
Genre: Animation, Comedy, Family
Rated: G
Running Time: 87 minutes

Synopsis: On vacation aboard a luxury cruise ship, Alvin, Simon, Theodore and the Chipettes are up to their usual antics, turning the ship into their personal playground, until they become 'chipwrecked' on a desert island. As Dave Seville frantically searches for his AWOL charges, the 'Munks and Chipettes do what they do best - sing, dance and wreak havoc. But they're in for the biggest surprises and lessons of their lives when they embark on an island adventure with their new friend - a castaway who's more than a match for Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Release Date: 1st of January, 2012


In 2007, Alvin and the Chipmunks, a global phenomenon to generations of fans, became a live action/CGI motion picture event with a contemporary comic sensibility. In the holiday season blockbuster, which grossed over $350 million worldwide, songwriter Dave Seville transformed singing chipmunks Alvin, Simon and Theodore into pop sensations - whil the out-of-control trio laid waste to Dave's home, wreaked havoc on his career, and turned Dave Seville's once-orderly life upside-down.

Before you could say, "Alvinnnnn!!!" talks began about a new Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. Not content to rest on their laurels, the 'Munks came up with yet another "first": a "Squeakquel," in which Alvin, Simon and Theodore finally meet their match - and maybe more - in the newly arrived female trio, The Chipettes.

But this holiday season, the Munks are about to unleash their greatest, grandest and most spectacular adventure: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, in which 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 film has it all: Alvin running amok on a luxury cruise liner; an epic salsa dance face-off, an erupting volcano, anthropomorphised athletic equipment; a mysterious castaway; the Munks and Chipettes hurtling through the air via runaway kites and makeshift zip-lines - and the hottest Munk-ified music ever.

It's Alvin, Simon, Theodore, Brittany, Jeanette and Eleanor as you've never seen them before. And here to tell the tale, are the film's stars and filmmakers:

Epic Adventure and Emotion

Ross Bagdasarian (Producer, and creator of Alvin and the Chipmunks): "Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked is the biggest canvas we've ever worked on."

Janice Karman (Producer, and creator of The Chipettes): "Chipwrecked is both visually grand and yet personally intimate.""

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.

Jason Lee (who reprises his role as Dave Seville): "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!"

Ross Bagdasarian: "Dave Seville thinks he's taking The Chipmunks and Chipettes on a relaxing vacation cruise. Alvin has promised Dave Seville to abide by Dave Seville's rules (after all, Alvin has assured Dave Seville that 'Rules is my middle name!', but of course within two seconds, we see that Alvin is not following anyone's rules but his own). And before long, he, Simon, Theodore and The Chipettes are flying off the ship, and ending up on a seemingly deserted island."

Justin Long (again voicing the role of Chipmunk frontman Alvin): "Alvin wouldn't be Alvin if he didn't trigger and lead the mayhem. It's the Alvin we know and love…at least, at first glance. He's the reason they become chipwrecked."

The unexpected flight is on a runaway kite that whisks the Munks and Chipettes to their new home. In a way, it's a kind of homecoming for the boys, though not necessarily a welcome one.

Ross Bagdasarian: "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 civilised. 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."

The new home leads to character-changing adventures, on a scale new to the boys and to the Alvin and the Chipmunks films.

Mike Mitchell (Director): "It's more of a question of what adventure isn't in this movie."

Anna Faris (who reprises her voice role of the Chipette, Jeanette): "This film is full of heroic scrapes, narrow escapes, and huge escapades. It amps up the adventure, and takes the Chipmunks and Chipettes completely out of their element."

Amy Poehler (who reprises her voice role of the Chipette, Eleanor): "There's lots of jumping, running, wriggling under doors, and flying."

Adding to the adventure is the appearance of a character new to the Chipmunks universe - "Simone," a swashbuckling Frenchman with a taste for adventure and a lust for life. If Simone looks familiar, it's because he's the alter-ego (and polar opposite) of buttoned-up and brainy Chipmunk, Simon, who transforms into Simone after he's bitten by a tropical spider. [Simon is again voiced by Matthew Gray Gubler; Simone is voiced by Alan Tudyk.]

Mike Mitchell: "Well, everyone knows that's a common side effect of being bit by a tropical spider; you turn into a swashbuckling French chipmunk."

Matthew Grey Gubler: "For most of the movie, Simon is not even Simon; he's Simone. But by the end of this adventure, Simon learns there's a little bit of Simone in all of us"

Simon's transformation leads to changes for Alvin.

Janice Karman: "Simone acts before he thinks; he's very much about derring-do, no matter what the real-world consequences. In a way, he's become like a turbo-charged European version of Alvin. So now, to ensure that The Chipmunks make it off the island, Alvin has to step up and be the logical, responsible one. Alvin becomes Simon -- and a little bit, like Dave."

Justin Long: "It's a good lesson for Alvin: When push comes to shove, and the stakes are high - you have to step up and take charge. (And by the way, adults need that message more than kids!)"

Alvin's counterpart, the Chipette Brittany, also undergoes a metamorphosis, of sorts, as does her sister Eleanor.

Christina Applegate (returning as the voice of Brittany): "Brittany is kind of a control freak and prima donna - she worries that the tropical humidity will frizz her hair - but she changes from her adventure. Brittany is instrumental in their efforts to get off the island."

Janice Karman: "While on the island, Brittany discovers that she's not just 'the pretty one' she's also the 'smart one'."

Amy Poehler: "Eleanor, who's always the 'can-do' Chipette, sprains her ankle, which sidelines her. That's no small adjustment for Eleanor."

Theodore's always-adventurous spirit serves him well in his new locale, but being the youngest brother comes with its own challenges.

Jesse McCartney (the voice of Theodore): "Theodore is always down for a good time, but he's a little more timid than his brothers. On the island, he's trying to keep up with everyone - and avoid falling victim to the island's dangers."

Ross Bagdasarian: "By presenting these new aspects of the characters, the film builds emotional connections. We have a huge canvas, but the film also feels very intimate."

Among those dangers is what Theodore first sees as a monster, but who turns out to be a young woman named Zoe. Zoe was …Cast Away…on the island years before the Chipmunks arrived, but she's been able to make some new friends along the way. Her island pals are: 'Spalding,' 'Calloway,' 'Rawlings', 'Dunlop' and 'Nerf -- respectively, a basketball, golf ball, baseball, tennis ball, and nerf football. She enjoys extended chats with her anthropomorphised sports gear, all of whom have faces presumably drawn by Zoe.

Given her vivid imagination, you'd think Zoe would be prepared for some talking chipmunks…but no. Upon her first close encounter with the 'Munks, Zoe says, "I've been on this island so long I'm now imagining squirrels [yes, she said, 'squirrels'] can talk." The inadvertent discovery of some long-buried treasure adds to the dynamic - and danger - between Zoe and the Chipmunks/Chipettes. Zoe is portrayed by actor/comedian Jenny Slate, a former cast member of Saturday Night Live.

Jenny Slate: "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!"

So where's Dave, while all this epic island action is unfolding? He's searching for his boys and the Chipettes, of course. After hang gliding from the ship to the island, Dave is on a quest. His unexpected ally: arch-nemesis Ian Hawke, the villain you love to hate, who has transitioned from fallen music executive to shipboard entertainer…dressed as a penguin. When Dave is finally reunited with his young charges, he discovers they've changed, in some impressive and relatable ways.

Mike Mitchell: "A key theme in this movie is about the Chipmunks growing up, and how hard it is for a parent - in this case, Dave - to let his kids be independent. 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!"

Christina Applegate: "This film is the most fun of them all. I love a movie that plunks you into the tropics and makes you feel like you're on vacation with six chipmunks."

The story's impressive scale is reflected in the locations where the filmmakers captured the action. Principal photography took place in Hawaii, home to the island sequences; Florida, where cast, crew and Munks boarded a luxury cruise liner; and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where interiors (ship's state rooms, casino) were filmed.

Matthew Gray Gubler: For the Chipmunks, Hawaii was the rough part of the shoot. The mix of their fur and the humidity wasn't ideal."

Amy Poehler: "Hawaii and The Chipmunks are not a good mix. Most of us think of Hawaii as a place of wonderful relaxation, but for the Chipmunks it's much too hot. They do better under a blanket.'

Music always plays a key role in an Alvin and the Chipmunks film, and Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked features songs by a number of today's top artists. Alvin, Simon, Theodore and The Chipettes, perform pop favorites, from classics like Vacation (originally immortalized by The Go-Go's) to current hits like S.O.S. (made famous by Rihanna) and Bad Romance (a Lady Gaga favorite).

The film's soundtrack album, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked - Music from the Motion Picture, follows two hugely successful Alvin and the Chipmunks soundtrack collections: 2007's RIAA platinum-certified, Alvin and the Chipmunks - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, and 2009's Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, which became a gold-certified top 10 success on the Billboard 200.

A Short History of the Chipmunks

Alvin and The Chipmunks have been delighting audiences around the world for over 50 years. From the moment they sprung into being with their #1 Christmas hit "The Chipmunk Song," the creative brainchild of singer/songwriter Ross Bagdasarian, Sr., the 'Munks' catchy sound has been a pop culture mainstay, for both young and old.

In 1958, Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. was a down-on-his-luck musician/songwriter with a family to feed. He was signed with Liberty Records, a struggling label desperate for a hit. In the spirit of a true artist, Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. was a risk taker. He cleaned out the family's savings account and bought a state-of-the-art tape recorder, then he sat down and tried to figure out what he would do with it. Looking around his desk, he saw a copy of a book called Duel with the Witch Doctor. That was his inspiration for the number one hit song "Witch Doctor," an instant smash that everyone knows by its nonsensical refrain: "OO EE OO AH AH ting tang wal-la wal-la bing bang."

Ross Bagdasarian employed a unique technique for the voice of the Witch Doctor. He slowed the tape recording speed down and recorded the lyrics in a slow, low voice, then played it back at regular speed. This technique would later come to define the iconic voices of Alvin, Simon and Theodore.

As "Witch Doctor" surpassed the million-selling copy demarcation, Liberty Records found themselves flush with cash. But the money wasn't enough to save the label indefinitely and Liberty soon needed another hit … so once again they called on Ross Bagdasarian.

Tapping back into his surroundings for inspiration, Ross Bagdasarian found himself listening to the insistent refrain of his four-year-old son begging to know when it would be Christmas - this was in the heat of summer 1958 - and he penned the perennial Christmas favorite, "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" … but he didn't title it that because The Chipmunks didn't exist yet.

Ross Bagdasarian loved the voice he created for the Witch Doctor, but he wanted to take it somewhere new, imbue it with personality, he just didn't know in what way. One day, as he drove through Yosemite National Park, a chipmunk ran in front of his car, stopped in the road, rose up on its haunches and seemed to challenge Ross Bagdasarian to pass. The rest is history … as that little chipmunk became Alvin.

Ross Bagdasarian created two sidekicks for the mischievous Alvin: Simon, the intellectual and practical one; and Theodore, the giggling one that loved to eat. Together they were Alvin and The Chipmunks, deriving their names from three of the executives at Liberty: Al Bennett, Si Waronker and Theodore Keep. A few years before, Ross Bagdasarian began recording under the stage name, David Seville. So this new musical act was born, David Seville and The Chipmunks.

Although it was a bit of a struggle to get "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" radio air play in the beginning, Ross Bagdasarian found a small station in Minneapolis willing to play it before the Christmas season officially began. The switchboards lit up like a you know what, and word of mouth got the song rotation on more and more stations until it became the fastest-selling number one hit single up to that time, over four and a half million copies in seven weeks (that milestone was eventually surpassed by The Beatles with "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in 1964), and would go on to win three Grammy® Awards and be nominated for a fourth.

The Chipmunks made their network television debut - as puppets performing with "Dave Seville" (Ross Bagdasarian) - on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Again, they were an immediate success. People were clamoring for more of the 'Munks, and a look was designed that was very different than what we have come to associate with The Chipmunks. In the beginning, The Chipmunks looked, well, very much like chipmunks … not quite photo-realistic, but based more on the animal than on a plushy derivative. A cottage industry ensued with all kinds of 'Munk toys and memorabilia, and of course, records.

The Chipmunks were huge. People couldn't get enough of them. After the 1960 release of the single "Alvin for President," Ross Bagdasarian received a letter of support from then senator John F. Kennedy, a Presidential candidate. Kennedy wrote back to Ross Bagdasarian saying that he was glad to know he had at least one worthy opponent. There seemed to be no limit to their popularity. In three short years, The Chipmunks had sold sixteen million records, won several Grammys among numerous nominations, and were riding the crest of an unprecedented merchandising campaign. It was time to bring them to life in a dynamic, visual medium.

The Alvin Show debuted on television in the fall of 1961 and with it, a new look for Alvin, Simon and Theodore - and for that matter, Ross Bagdasarian since the character of Dave Seville was now born into the world of animation.

Munkography: A Chipmunk Timeline, Highlights

1958: "Witch Doctor" released
"The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" released
Chipmunks first appear as puppets on The Ed Sullivan Show
1959: "The Chipmunk Song" is nominated for 4 Grammys and wins 3 of them
Chipmunks release their first album Let's All Sing with The Chipmunks
Chipmunk merchandise licensing campaign launched
1960: "Alvin's Harmonica" wins a Grammy®
"Alvin for President" released; JFK writes to Bagdasarian, Sr.
1961: "The Alvin Show" debuts in prime time on CBS
"Let's Sing with The Chipmunks" wins Grammy
"Alvin for President" nominated for two Grammys
1962: The Alvin Show album nominated for a Grammy
1963: The Chipmunk Songbook nominated for two Grammys
1964: The Chipmunks Sing the Beatles' is released and goes multi-Platinum.
1965: "The Chipmunks Sing The Beatles" wins Grammy (for best engineered recording-special or novel effects)
1966:"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" is nominated for a Grammy
1972: Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. passes away
1978: Ross Bagdasarian & Janice Karman plot the rebirth of The Chipmunks
1980: "Chipmunk Punk" is released goes Platinum and wins NARM's Best Selling Children's Album
1981: "A Chipmunk Christmas" animated special airs on NBC. The companion soundtrack album goes Platinum.
"Urban Chipmunk" is released goes Platinum and wins NARM's Best Selling Children's Album
1983: "Alvin and The Chipmunks" animated television show debuts on NBC and is immediately a runaway #1 hit seen by more than 10 million viewers per week.
The Chipettes are introduced
1985: "Alvin and The Chipmunks" is nominated for an Emmy®
1987: "The Chipmunk Adventure" animated theatrical feature is released
"Alvin and The Chipmunks" is nominated for a second Emmy
"Alvin and The Chipmunks" is nominated for a Young Artist Award
1988: "Alvin and The Chipmunks" is nominated for a third Emmy
"The Chipmunk Adventure" is nominated for a Young Artist Award
1990: "Rockin' with The Chipmunks" special for NBC features Will Smith.
1992: "Chipmunks In Low Places" is released and goes Platinum. It features Alan Jackson, Charlie Daniels, Waylon Jennings, Tammy Wynette, Aaron Tippin and Billy Ray Cyrus.
1994: "A Very Merry Chipmunk" is released. It features Celine Dion, Alan Jackson, Kenny G, Gene Autry and Patty Loveless.
1995: "When You Wish Upon A Chipmunk" is released
1996: "Club Chipmunk: The Dance Mixes" is released
1998: "The A-Files: Alien Songs" is released
1999: "Alvin and The Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein" video is released
2000 : "Alvin and The Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein" wins Golden Reel Award
"Alvin and The Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman" video is released
2007 : Alvin and the Chipmunks live-action film w/ redesigned CGI Chipmunks becomes a blockbuster motion picture event.
#1 Family/Comedy DVD of 2008 (and #2 overall)
Platinum soundtrack album.
Wins Best Soundtrack Album at the 2008 American Music Awards
Wins Favorite Movie at 2008 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, beating out the likes of Transformers and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.
2008 : 50th Anniversary of The Chipmunks
2009 : Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel grosses over $440 million worldwide
2011: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked in theaters everywhere