The Chipmunk Adventure

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The Chipmunk Adventure
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJanice Karman
Written by
Based on
Ross Bagdasarian Sr.
Produced byRoss Bagdasarian
Starring
Edited byTony Mizgalski
Music byRandy Edelman
Production
company
Distributed byThe Samuel Goldwyn Company
Release date
  • May 22, 1987 (1987-05-22)
Running time
78 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$6.8 million[1]

The Chipmunk Adventure is a 1987 American animated

Ross Bagdasarian Sr..[2] Directed by Janice Karman and written by Karman and Ross Bagdasarian Jr., it follows the Chipmunks and the Chipettes
as they go on a hot air balloon race around the world that is the cover for a diamond smuggling ring while their owner David is out on a trip and being hunted down by Claudia and Klaus Furschtein.

After the success of the Alvin and the Chipmunks television series on NBC, several companies had been interested in financing an Alvin and the Chipmunks film. Bagdasarian Jr. and Karman decided to finance the movie themselves. Animators from The Black Cauldron (1985) worked on the film after its box-office flop caused many animators to get laid off from Walt Disney Pictures. The animation was provided overseas to several regions such as Utah and Canada. Randy Edelman composed the music after he was visited by Bagdasarian Jr. in London. Production lasted for a year.[3]

The Chipmunk Adventure was released on May 22, 1987, and grossed $6.8 million at the box office, making it a moderate box-office success. The film initially received mixed reviews from critics. Most critics praised the animation, visuals, and soundtrack, but the plot and voices of the Chipmunks and Chipettes were polarized. Stereotypes of foreign characters were also criticized. Retrospective reviews of the film became more positive. It was the Chipmunks' only theatrical film until Alvin and the Chipmunks was released on December 14, 2007.

Plot

When

Dave Seville goes to Europe on a business trip, the Chipmunks—Alvin, Simon, and Theodore—are left home in Los Angeles with their babysitter, Miss Miller. Later, the Chipmunks and Chipettes—Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor—play an arcade game Around the World in 30 Days, and Alvin and Brittany argue over which would win an actual race around the world after Brittany wins the game. They are overheard by international diamond-smuggling siblings Klaus and Claudia Furschtein, who have $5 million worth of diamonds to distribute to buyers but no couriers who are unknown to their nemesis, Jamal. Claudia tricks the children into being unwitting mules
, offering to arrange a real race around the world between the Chipmunks and Chipettes for a $100,000 prize. To participate, Alvin records a phone call to Dave and edits it to trick Ms. Miller into believing that Dave wants the Chipmunks to meet him in Europe.

The two teams set off by hot air balloon, each given a different route and twelve dolls made in their likenesses, which they are to exchange at designated locations for dolls in the likenesses of the other team to confirm they visited the locations. Unbeknownst to them, their dolls are filled with diamonds, and those they are receiving contain cash. The Furschteins' butler, Mario, is secretly an informant for Jamal, who dispatches two of his men to acquire the dolls. The Chipmunks' first stop is Mexico City, where they join in a fiesta. In Bermuda, the Chipettes scuba dive to make their first exchange and Brittany is almost eaten by a shark. The teams continue their journeys, exchanging their dolls in various countries along the way. Jamal's men tail them, but fail to get the dolls due to various mishaps. The teams cross paths in Athens, where they try to outperform one another in a musical number at the Acropolis and are almost spotted by Dave.

Frustrated by his men's failures, Jamal enlists the aid of a young sheikh who has his mercenaries capture the Chipettes in Giza. Rather than turn them over to Jamal, the prince desires instead to keep the girls and marry Brittany, and gifts her a baby penguin. The girls perform a song to charm the cobras guarding their dolls, escape in their balloon, and detour to Antarctica to return the baby penguin to its family. Learning that they have deviated from their route, Claudia sends her thugs after them. The girls escape, but discover the diamonds and cash inside the dolls, realize they have been deceived and set out to find the boys.

Meanwhile, the Chipmunks take a shortcut through a jungle, where they are captured by a native tribe who name Theodore their "Prince of Plenty" and force Alvin and Simon to be his slaves. They soon learn that Theodore and soon them are to be sacrificed by being dropped into a pit of crocodiles on a full moon. By performing the song "Wooly Bully" to entertain the natives, they stall their execution and are rescued by the Chipettes.

Claudia discovers Mario passing information to Jamal, who is revealed to be an Interpol Inspector. The children land at Los Angeles International Airport at the same time as Dave's returning flight, and are chased by the Furschteins, who get them to surrender by lying that they have kidnapped Ms. Miller. Dave sees them being taken away in the Furschteins' car, and joins Jamal in pursuit. Ms. Miller is absentmindedly driving the wrong way on a one-way street on her way to pick up Dave, and accidentally runs the Furschteins off the road. They are arrested by Jamal, and the children are reunited with Dave. Alvin and Brittany argue over who won the race, much to the adults' frustration.

Voice cast

Production

Origin and development

After the success of the animated cartoon series on NBC, several studios were interested in financing the movie based on Alvin and the Chipmunks.[4] The idea originated while Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. and Janice Karman built successful doghouses.[4] Although Janice disliked the idea of creating and financing the movie themselves, they shortly found the film's director.[4] The unknown director created story sketches that set the tone of the film.[4] Two months after production started, the unknown director was replaced by Karman, who was pregnant with her first child at the time.[4][5][6] Karman was initially reluctant about being a director of the film.[5]

Animation

The box-office failure of

Walt Disney Productions animators (such as Glen Keane, Dan Haskett and Dave Pruiksma), whom Bagdasarian promptly hired to work on the film.[4]

After returning the first part of the film to the overseas animation productions, Bagdasarian, Jr. and Karman only received six seconds of animation several months later and five minutes of animation a year later.[4] It was due to the animators suffering from "sore hands."[4] As a result, they hired another 150 animators to finish the film.[4] Within nine months before the film's release, they sent animation to Canada, New York, Utah, Spain, and South Korea.[4] Several parts that were difficult to animate or not close enough to be completed were cut from the script.[4] Locations cut in the film include a zoo and Russia.[5]

Music

The Chipmunk Adventure: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The Chipmunks and the Chipettes
chronology
Songs from Our TV Shows
(1984) 		The Chipmunk Adventure: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
(1987) 		The Chipmunks and the Chipettes: Born to Rock
(1988)

Before the film's release, Bagdasarian, Jr. visited

Buena Vista Records.[10] On March 17, 1998, the soundtrack was released on CD by MCA Records.[11][12] The CD was a bonus included on the VHS re-release of the film by Universal Studios Home Video.[12] On April 1, 2008, the soundtrack was re-released on CD as a bonus of the film's special edition DVD re-release.[13]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Performer(s)Length
1."Chipmunk Adventure Theme"   
2."
Domingo Samudio
The Chipmunks 
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Performer(s)Length
1."The Girls of Rock 'n Roll"
  • Jay Levy
  • Terry Shaddick
The Chipmunks & The Chipettes 
2."Flying with the Eagles"EdelmanThe Chipmunks & The Chipettes 
3."Getting Lucky"
Barry DeVorzon
The Chipettes 
4."Mexican Holiday"
  • Edelman
  • Bagdasarian Jr.
The Chipmunks 
5."Diamond Dolls"
  • Elysee Alexander
    		• The Chipettes 

    Release and promotion

    On February 28, 1986, the film was announced to be scheduled for a 1986 release.[14] The film was shown one year before its release, at the 1986 Cannes Film Festival.[15] The film was originally scheduled to be released in December 1986, but the film was still in-production at the time.[15][16] The Chipmunk Adventure opened on May 22, 1987, through The Samuel Goldwyn Company and Bagdasarian Productions.[10][17]

    According to Anne Thompson of Special to the Register, it was initially predicted to outperform The Care Bears Movie, which was the most successful release distributed by The Samuel Goldwyn Company at the time.[3] However, The Samuel Goldwyn Company spent $15 million to promote and market the film,[3] compared to $24 million for The Care Bears Movie.[18][a] Promotional tie-ins include Burger King, French's, and the film's soundtrack.[3] The Goldwyn staff decided that it would appeal to both younger and older audiences, including the audience for The Care Bears Movie.[3] The Chipmunk Adventure opened at No. 6 at the North American box office on its first weekend, grossing at $2,584,720 from 916 venues.[1][19] The film grossed $6,804,312 in North America alone.[1]

    Home media

    The film was first officially released on

    Warner Home Video, reducing to the price of $19.98.[23] The film got a new re-release on March 17, 1998, by Universal Studios Home Video for the 40th anniversary of Alvin and the Chipmunks, pricing at $19.98.[11][24][25] It included a free coloring book activity, CD-ROM, and the CD of the soundtrack by MCA Records.[11][12] It debuted at No. 30 on Billboard's Top Video Sales chart on the week of April 11, 1998.[26] A week later, the re-release debuted at No. 14 on Billboard's Top Kid Video chart.[27] The re-release entered the top 10 on Billboard's Top Kid Video chart on the week of May 2, 1998.[28]

    On May 23, 2006, the film was released on

    Alvin and the Chipmunks Go to the Movies.[13] On March 25, 2014, the film was released on Blu-ray for the first time.[31]

    Critical reception

    Initial release

    Upon the film's initial theatrical and home video releases, it received mixed reviews. Rick Bentley of The Town Talk was enthused about the film, praising the animation as "first-rate", the story as "interesting", and soundtrack as "near-perfect". He concluded that the film is "entertaining for [the] young and old" and an "early [summer] treat [for this year]."

    Gannett News Service also gave the film three stars out of four, describing the film as "colorful, tuneful, and features inventive gags and robust villains."[36] In the Fort Worth Star-Telegram issue from November 13, 1987, a review on Major Releases rated the film a scale of 6 out of 10, commenting that the film blends "humor, adventure, and pop-oriented music to solid effect" and "benefits immeasurably from the vocal talents of Susan Tyrrell as [Claudia]."[8]

    Richard Freeman of

    Knight-Ridder News Service described the film as "mildly entertain[ing]". She praised the backgrounds of cities and landmarks as "attractively realistic" and stated that they offer a "bit of education", but criticized the stereotypes as a "bit uncomfortable".[43]

    Film critic Chris Chase gave the film 2+1⁄2 out of 4 stars, stating that "kiddies [and Saturday-morning audiences] should love [the film]."

    The Los Angeles Times commented "listening to six little characters talk and sing in speeded-up falsetto voices for 76 minutes becomes a real test of the viewer's endurance." Solomon also said that the villains resembled those from a Ralph Bakshi film and did not fit with the world of the Chipmunks.[46] David Bianculli of Special to the Inquirer also gave the film two stars, critiquing that "without [very much of Dave Seville, the film isn't as] funny."[47] Greg Burliuk of The Kingston Whig-Standard reviewed that the film is "[more] on action than laughs". He questioned about the Chipettes and their human form, criticized the animation for losing most of the "romantic glamor" of the pyramids and cities, described the songs as "very mediocre", and praised the "Wooly Bully" sequence as "one magic moment".[9] Roger Ebert commented that the animation is slightly better than the TV series, but criticized the film's "dumb and predictable" story, while Gene Siskel criticized the plot for being right out of a Saturday morning cartoon, especially through the film's introduction of the Chipettes.[48] Both Ebert and Siskel also criticized the plot and the Chipmunks' voices, with Ebert comparing them to "fingernails on the blackboard".[48] Siskel and Ebert ultimately gave the film two thumbs down.[48]

    Retrospective

    The film reception was more positive throughout the years. On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 75% based on 8 reviews, with an average rating of 6.6/10.[49] Randy Myers of Knight Ridder rated the film 3+1⁄2 out of 4 stars, calling the film an "absolutely delightful continuation of the [franchise]". He praised the "spunky, tuneful, and funny" musical numbers, especially the Chipmunks' cover of "Wooly Bully".[24] Eric Henderson of Slant Magazine gave the film three stars out of four.[50] Nancy Davis Kho of Common Sense Media gave the film three stars out of five, calling the film a "mildly entertaining adventure set against a backdrop of international wonders", but warned that there are negative stereotypes of Arab thugs and some African cannibals. She recommended the film for ages 5 and older.[51]

    Notes

    1. ^ According to the 1985 edition of Guinness Film Facts and Feats, the publicity budget of $24 million for its marketing of The Care Bears Movie was the largest publicity budget at the time.[18]

    References

    1. ^ a b c "The Chipmunk Adventure (1987) – Box Office Mojo". boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
    2. ISBN 0-8160-3831-7
      . Retrieved June 6, 2020.
    3. ^
      Santa Ana Orange County Register
      . p. 206. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
    4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "The Agony and The Agony: The Making of The Chipmunk Adventure". Alvin and the Chipmunks. Archived from the original on July 26, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
    5. ^ a b c Nydell, Tim (May 31, 2022). "Janice Karman podcast interview". Saturday Morning Rewind. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
    6. ^ Kuklenski, Valerie (July 3, 2006). "Oo ee oo ah ah! The Chipmunks are back with a bang". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
    7. ^
      ISBN 0-8245-0816-5
      .
    8. ^ a b c "Major Releases". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. November 13, 1987. p. 131. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
    9. ^ a b Burliuk, Greg (November 13, 1987). "Playtime for kids, adults has lost all its old charm". The Kingston Whig-Standard. p. 9. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
    10. ^
      Cash Box
      . April 4, 1987. p. 25. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
    11. ^ a b c "Stay In: Kid Videos". The Leaf-Chronicle. April 3, 1998. p. 30. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
    12. ^
      The South Bend Tribune
      . April 6, 1998. p. 117. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
    13. ^ a b "DVDizzy.com DVD Release Schedule – April 2008 Calendar". dvdizzy.com. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
    14. ^ Tattrie, Doug (February 28, 1986). "Adult, children's movies trend for 1986". Fort McMurray Today. p. 15. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
    15. ^ a b Coburn, Marcia Froelke (May 18, 1986). "Bashes 'N' Cash Amid Fears of Clash; Cannes Fest Lives Up to Its Hot Image". Chicago Tribune. p. 10 (Arts). Retrieved April 12, 2011.
    16. The San Francisco Examiner. pp. 206, 208
      . Retrieved August 19, 2023.
    17. ^ "Alvin's Here! Meet Alvin and the Chipmunks". Madison Wisconsin State Journal. April 23, 1987. p. 15. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
    18. ^
      ISBN 0-85112-278-7
      . The largest publicity budget was the $24 million spent by the Samuel Goldwyn Co. on the launch of The Care Bears Movie (US 85).
    19. The Los Angeles Times
      . May 27, 1987. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
    20. ^ "Coming Attractions". Chicago Tribune. November 6, 1987. p. 192. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
    21. ^ "Home Video Guide". The Palm Beach Post. November 13, 1987. p. 120. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
    22. ^ "Top Kid Video Sales" (PDF). Billboard. December 19, 1987. p. 38. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
    23. Warner
      , $19.98).
    24. ^
      Sun-News
      . p. 71. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
    25. ^ Hartl, John (April 2, 1998). "Video View: Disney cartoons dominate animated world". Mount Vernon Argus. p. 91. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
    26. ^ "Top Video Sales" (PDF). Billboard. April 11, 1998. p. 118. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
    27. ^ "Top Kid Video" (PDF). Billboard. April 18, 1998. p. 62. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
    28. ^ "Top Kid Video" (PDF). Billboard. May 2, 1998. p. 74. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
    29. ^ Scott, Walter (May 21, 2006). "PersonalityParade". The Item. p. 48. Retrieved July 6, 2023. The Chipmunk Adventure, a 1987 feature film, is due on DVD this Tuesday.
    30. ^
      The Los Angeles Times
      . April 6, 2006. p. 33. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
    31. ^ "The Chipmunk Adventure Blu-ray". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
    32. ^ Bentley, Rick (June 1, 1987). "'Chipmunk Adventure' treat for all". The Town Talk. p. 23. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
    33. ^ Maslin, Janet (May 22, 1987). "FILM: ANIMATED MUSICAL, 'CHIPMUNK ADVENTURE'". The New York Times. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
    34. ^ Hinson, Hal (May 25, 1987). "'The Chipmunk Adventure' (G)". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 2, 2023.[dead link]
    35. ^ Steinmetz, Johanna (May 22, 1987). "'Chipmunk Adventure' Circles Globe And Corrals Attention". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
    36. ^ Garner, Jack (June 26, 1987). "Film keeps kids happy". Florida Today. p. 69. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
    37. Doylestown Intelligencer
      . p. 43. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
    38. Doylestown Intelligencer
      . p. 61. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
    39. Santa Ana Orange County Register
      . p. 317. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
    40. ^ McKie, Paul (May 25, 1987). "Chipmunks enter '80s in cleverly made film". Winnipeg Free Press. p. 21. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
    41. Madison Capital Times
      . December 29, 1987. p. 18. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
    42. ^ Cain, Scott (June 3, 1987). "'Chipmunk Adventure' aimed at kids". Yuma Sun. p. 18. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
    43. ^ Wolin, Glenda Cohn (May 30, 1987). "Chipmunks race around the world". Odessa American. p. 9. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
    44. ^ Chase, Chris (July 21, 1987). "Mini-Reviews". Daily News. p. 329. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
    45. ^ Flynn, Rochelle (June 24, 1987). "Movie Reviews - Rochelle Flynn: Roxanne and Short takes". Wilmington Town Crier. Woburn Daily Times, Inc. p. 30. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
    46. ^ Solomon, Charles (May 22, 1987). "'Chipmunk Adventure' Just So Much Hot Air". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
    47. ^ Bianculli, David (May 25, 1987). "3 decades later, another chip from The Chipmunks". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 44. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
    48. ^ a b c "Beverly Hills Cop II, Amazing Grace and Chuck, Ishtar, The Chipmunk Adventure, 1987". Siskel And Ebert Movie Reviews. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
    49. ^ "Chipmunk Adventure (1987)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
    50. ^ Henderson, Eric (April 2, 2008). "The Chipmunk Adventure". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on January 7, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
    51. ^ Kho, Nancy Davis. "Parents' Guide to The Chipmunk Adventure". Common Sense Media. Retrieved July 2, 2023.

    External links

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