Alvin and the Chipmunks Wiki
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Alvin and the Chipmunks Wiki

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip[6] is a 2015 live-action/computer animated film, directed by Walt Becker and distributed by Twentieth Century Fox, with Regency Enterprises and Bagdasarian Productions. The film is a follow-up to Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (2011).

The film stars Jason Lee, Tony Hale, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Josh Green, Bella Thorne, and Jennifer Coolidge with the voices of Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney (as The Chipmunks), Christina Applegate, Anna Faris, and Kaley Cuoco (as The Chipettes). It was originally scheduled to have premiered on December 23, 2015 in the US, but was Pushed to December 18, 2015 release (against Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Sisters).

The film has received unfavorable reviews from movie critics / websites, such as Rotten Tomatoes, but, despite also grossing the lowest of the CGI/live-action films (more than $100 million less than Chipwrecked's total worldwide gross), has proved to be a financial success making over $85 million to date in North America alone and over $234 million to date in total worldwide receipts.

Plot

Through a series of misunderstandings, Alvin, Simon and Theodore come to believe that Dave is going to propose to his new girlfriend in Miami... and dump them. They have three days to get to him and stop the proposal, saving themselves not only from losing Dave but possibly from gaining a terrible stepbrother.[7]

Full Plot

The Road Chip Blu-Ray DVD Cover 2016

2016 DVD Cover

The Chipmunks and The Chipettes are setting up a surprise birthday bash for Dave. Alvin invites and hires many people and celebrities to the dismay of Simon, before Dave returns home in dissatisfaction. Dave is disappointed in them, but agrees to take them to mini-golf, and meet the woman he has been dating for the past few months. While the Chipmunks like Samantha, her son Miles is a bully who physically abuses the trio. Later, the Chipmunks find an engagement ring in a bag Dave brought home and believe that he's going to propose to Samantha. They try to steal the ring but are unsuccessful.

Dave has to produce a record for Ashley Grey in Miami and decides to bring Samantha along with him. The Chipmunks and Miles are staying together, but they agree to head to Miami to sabotage the proposal. The Chipmunks drug three squirrels and dress them up in their clothes to fool their hard-of-seeing neighbor Miss Price, who was tasked with looking after them. The Chipmunks travel on a plane, but Theodore lets out several animals which cause an emergency landing and brings the ire of Air Marshall James Suggs, who has a personal vendetta against the Chipmunks (Suggs' girlfriend left him while "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" played in the background).

The Chipmunks head to a bar and perform ("South Side"), but this is interrupted by Suggs and they cause a bar brawl as a diversion. They jump into a cab sitting outside. After the cab driver learns they can't pay him, he kicks the four out of the cab. The Chipmunks and Miles rest, and he reveals that his dad left him when he was five years old. They raise money (by performing "Iko Iko") to take a bus to New Orleans, and sing "Uptown Funk," which gets the attention of Dave when it is broadcast on live television. Meanwhile, Suggs gets drunk and wakes up to find that he got two tattoos, one on his chest that reads "Sugg Life" and another of Alvin and the Chipmunks on his back.

Dave and Samantha meet up with Miles and the Chipmunks and are incredibly disappointed and the chipmunks and Miles are being punished for ruining their weekend. Because the Chipmunks are now on the No-Fly List, Dave has to drive the boys to Miami. When they get there, Alvin reveals that he stole the ring from the container, thus ruining the proposal. However, Miles had bonded with the Chipmunks and was upset that they were celebrating over this. He crosses the street with his headphones on and is almost hit by a car, but the Chipmunks swing Theodore and push Miles out of the way, saving his life. They agree to give the ring back.

During the dinner, Suggs catches up with the Chipmunks, but they trap him in an elevator. Miles and the Chipmunks return the ring to Dave, who reveals he never intended to propose to Samantha, and the ring belonged to his friend Barry. Dave is very disappointed in the kids, so they have a plan and try to make it up to him and get the Chipettes and Miles to sing a new song for him ("Home"). Dave forgives them and Barry reconciles with his fiancee Alice. Dave takes the Chipmunks to a courthouse where he officially adopts them. Dave claims that nothing could ruin his day, but returns home to see the squirrels had destroyed everything. He then predictably screams Alvin's name.

In a mid-credits scene, Suggs has escaped the elevator and decides to relax by the pool. He's told to leave since it's for hotel guests only, but Suggs refuses and says the only way he's leaving is if they carry him off. Two security guards are called in and do just that.

Box Office

The film closed in the United States on May 19, 2016. It was a box office success, with a final domestic earning of $85,886,987 and a worldwide earning of $148,911,649 for a grand total of $234,798,636, making it the fourth highest grossing Alvin and the Chipmunks film.[5]

Cast

Live-action

Voices

Songs

Main article: Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Promotion Songs

(*) - denotes original Chipmunk song

Trivia

  • On June 11th, 2013 20th Century Fox announced that a fourth installment, Alvin and the Chipmunks 4, would be released on December 11, 2015.[14]
  • The film is likely based on a combination of The Alvin Show episode Lovesick Dave and The Chipmunks episodes Dave's Getting Married and Middle-Aged Davey.
  • This is the first CGI/live-action film not to feature David Cross as Ian Hawke, it is unknown what happened to him as he's not mentioned in the movie.
  • The Chipmunks placing squirrels in the house to replace them may be a reference to the 80's episode Too Hip to Be Dave where Dave had mistaken the chipmunks for squirrels due to his amnesia.
  • Amy Poehler does not reprise her role as the voice of Eleanor.
  • A sneak peek of the film was shown during the Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Musical tour on the 8th of October 2015.[15]
  • Like Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, Mark Mothersbaugh created the musical score for the film.[16]
  • There is a character named Ms. Price, who might have been inspired by Miss Miller due to inhabiting similar characteristics.
  • The Chipettes have a smaller role in this movie.
  • According to UK cinemas, the film is rated U.
  • The film was released on DVD/Blu-Ray combo March 15, 2016.[17]
  • This is the first film in the series that Rhythm and Hues didn't make the visual effects for The Chipmunks. Weta Digital would make The Chipmunks instead as the result of Rhythm and Hues' 2013 bankruptcy.[18]
  • This film is the first time Dave grounds The Chipmunks in the CGI/live-action film series.
  • Theodore letting the monkey out of its cage is most likely a reference to the Alvin Dell Comic 1 story Alvin's Pet.
  • The music in the scene where The Chipmunks imagine Miles bullying them is from the film Psycho.
  • The way in which Alvin dodges Agent Suggs' attacks in slow motion during the bar fight scene is a reference to the film The Matrix.
  • This is the first CGI/live-action film to feature opening credits since Alvin and the Chipmunks.
  • This is the final CGI/live-action film in the Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise, making it the final film containing the voices of Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Christina Applegate and Anna Faris as Alvin, Simon, Theodore, Brittany and Jeanette, respectively. However, the CGI/live-action film designs of The Chipmunks and The Chipettes would be used for books, live appearances and promotional material.
  • This is the second Alvin and the Chipmunks film overall to have its music score composed by the same score composer as its predecessor after Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman.

Goofs

  • In the opening scene, when The Chipmunks and The Chipettes are recording Dave's birthday message, the smartphone screen is facing toward Theodore. However, when the DJ calls, Alvin accepts the call from the back side.
  • Alvin would not have been able to know that Theodore had pressed the flip button. The flip button is on the side of the smartphone that is facing Theodore.
  • When Miles and the Chipmunks first encounter each other, Miles hangs Theodore on a windmill blade by the hood. The windmill does a full rotation, but Theodore remains hanging by his hood.

Videos

Posters

Movie Website

Storyboards

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 'Alvin and the Chipmunks 4' Finds a Director (Exclusive), Hollywoodreporter.com, Retrieved 2014-12-18.
  2. Mrs. Doubtfire Writer Signs Onto Alvin and the Chipmunks 4, Comingsoon.net, Retrieved 2014-08-23.
  3. 'Alvin and the Chipmunks 4' Will Now Open Opposite 'Star Wars: Force Awakens', Hollywoodreporter.com, Retrieved 2015-10-14.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip – Release Dates, Viva-press.com, Retrieved 2015-12-10.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip, Boxofficemojo.com, Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  6. ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE ROAD CHIP, Foxmovies.com, Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  7. 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: Road Chip', Backstage.com, Retrieved 2015-02-09.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Tony Hale Joins ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip’ (EXCLUSIVE), Variety.com, Retrieved 2015-02-11.
  9. Kimberly Williams-Paisley Squeaks Into ‘Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Road Chip’, Deadline.com, Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  10. Paw-Sitive Identity, Tumblr.com, Retrieved 2015-12-10.
  11. Bella Thorne Squirrels Away ‘Chipmunks 4′ Role; Three Join ‘Pilgrimage'; 108 Media Acquires ‘Below Dreams’, Deadline.com, Retrieved 2015-03-23.
  12. Alvin and the Chipmunks - AlvinMovies, Facebook.com, Retrieved 2015-11-26.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Alvin and the Chipmunks - AlvinMovies, Facebook.com, Retrieved 2015-07-07.
  14. Fox Dates ‘Frankenstein,’ ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks 4’ and Animated Films Through 2018, Slashfilm.com Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  15. Alvin & the Chipmunks bring the house down at the Syracuse Oncenter, Dailyorange.com, Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  16. The Road Chip: Film Score Day, Instagram.com, Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  17. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip [Blu-ray], Amazon.com, Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  18. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip, Wetafx.com, Retrieved 2016-02-26.
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