Review of Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein (1999) by Jacob G — 30 May 2012

Alvin, Simon, and Theodore had not had another theatrical adventure since 1987's THE CHIPMUNK ADVENTURE, but when Universal Studios (temporarily) obtained the rights to the chipmunks in the 1990's, this direct-to-video feature was made.

The animation is merely serviceable, although it's not as bad as Saturday morning cartoon fare. That said, the only problem with ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS MEET FRANKENSTEIN is that it is unevenly paced.

It begins quite promisingly, in which the chipmunks perform a mean, gritty rock and roll concert at a theme park (after a superfluous black and white introduction in which we see a stripped down "flashback" of Dr.

Frankenstein). The film is still on that fine start for the following thirty minutes, in which Alvin and company miss their next performance by taking a comical tour ride on a bus (acting out a scene from a movie), accidentally get locked in the theme park, get stuck in Frankenstein's palace (where the thickly accented, nasty Dr.

Frankenstein activates a real monster), and finally, go on a scarifying roller coaster to outrun their pursuer. But the second act gets pretty saccharine fast when Alvin and company try to "tame" the monster and make him more civilized.

All the energy prevalent in the opening 30 minutes is gone after that. Things DO pick up a bit in the finale in which Alvin gets kidnapped by the doctor, but even then, the climax feels more draggy and less thrilling than that of the opening thirty minutes.

Aside from that, the best moments of the film are the musical numbers (aside from the opening number, there's a rap/rock song the munks perform in their bedroom, occasionally interrupted by David shouting at them to go to sleep) and of course, the adorable title characters; the chemistry between them is always a pleasure.

On the flip side, Dr. Frankenstein is too obvious to be truly effective as a villain, although his comeuppance at the end is quite fitting. Had the movie had more action in its middle and its villain more interesting, this could have been great.

As it is, it's merely average kiddie fare, nothing more.