The Chipmunk Adventure
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| The Chipmunk Adventure | |
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 The Chipmunk Adventure theatrical movie poster |
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| Directed by | Janice Karman |
| Produced by | Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. |
| Written by | Ross Bagdasarian (characters) Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. Janice Karman |
| Starring | Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. Janice Karman Dody Goodman Susan Tyrrell Anthony De Longis |
| Music by | Randy Edelman |
| Editing by | Tony Mizgalski |
| Distributed by | Bagdasarian Productions The Samuel Goldwyn Company |
| Release date(s) | May 22, 1987 |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
The Chipmunk Adventure is a 1987 animated film featuring the characters from NBC's Saturday morning cartoon Alvin and the Chipmunks. Marking the first appearance of The Chipmunks in a feature film since their 1958 debut, The Chipmunk Adventure was directed by Janice Karman, and features the voices of Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., Janice Karman, and Dody Goodman. This film was produced by Bagdasarian Productions, and distributed to movie theatres by The Samuel Goldwyn Company. It was recently released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment, digitally remastered from the original 35mm film and presented with 5.1 surround sound.
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[edit] Production
After the success of his animated cartoon series on NBC, Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. began developing a concept for a full-length feature film. Fortunately for Bagdasarian Productions, the box-office failure of Disney's The Black Cauldron in 1985 had led to the layoff of a number of Disney animators, who Bagdasarian promptly hired to work on his film. The result was extremely high-caliber animation.
Unfortunately, Bagdasarian and his wife Janice Karman decided to finance the project themselves, having generated so much revenue from the Alvin and the Chipmunks TV series. Their decision to work with several overseas studios led to major production delays. By late 1986, production had fallen far behind schedule. A shortage of time and money resulted in major cuts being made to the film (the final version that was released in theaters was just over an hour long).
The Chipmunk Adventure opened in theaters May 22, 1987, and performed poorly at the box office.
[edit] Plot synopsis
When Dave Seville goes off to Europe on a business trip, Alvin, Simon, and Theodore are left at home with their rather absent-minded babysitter, Miss Miller - much to the chagrin of Alvin, who dreams of world travel. While the three are playing a game of Around the World in Thirty Days with the Chipettes, Alvin and Brittany begin to argue over which would win an actual race around the world. However, their conversation is being eavesdropped on by siblings Klaus and Claudia Vorstein/Furschtien (IMDb's credits list their last name as Furshtien, while the film's closed captioning spells it as Vorstein) - two diamond smugglers who are running out of ways of getting their wares to customers without the interference of the authorities. The two approach the children, telling them that they will provide them with the means for a real race around the world by hot air balloon, with the winner receiving $100,000.
After tricking Miss Miller with a phony phone call from Dave, the Chipmunks and Chipettes meet at the Vorstein/Furschtien's mansion, where they are told the rules: each team is given a separate route to follow, along with a chest of dolls, made in their own likenesses, which they are required to drop off to verify that they have visited all checkpoints. Upon dropping off one of their own dolls, they will receive a doll made in the likeness of the opposing team. In reality, these dolls are filled with diamonds, and the dolls received are filled with cash, given to them by the buyers.
After a rocky start, both teams begin their travels, with the Chipmunks going to Mexico City, and the Chipettes being caught in a hurricane before reaching Bermuda. Unbeknownst to both teams, however, they are being trailed by two rather-intimidating looking INTERPOL agents, sent by Inspector Jamal. They silently follow the children as the Chipmunks travel through South America and Africa, visiting Machu Picchu, Rio de Janeiro, Angel Falls, Istanbul, and Venice. More time is given to the countries and sites the Chipettes see, including the white cliffs of Dover, the Netherlands, Switzerland, London, Rome (where they visit the Colosseum), the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and Germany.
Both teams meet up in Athens, where Alvin and Brittany begin bickering, each claiming they can "out rock and roll" the other. This results in the performance of the song "Girls of Rock & Roll" amongst the Greecian ruins, with Dave nearly spotting them, and INTERPOL agents Sissman and Kuomo nearly catching them.
The Chipettes then travel on to Egypt, passing the Sphinx. There, they are chased by a group of men on camel. Despite their attempts to fight them off, the girls are captured, and brought to their young prince, (voiced by Nancy Cartwright). The prince agrees to return the valuable dolls to Jamal, but declares that he is keeping the girls, and making Brittany his bride. Despite being showered with gifts - one being a baby penguin - the Chipettes are desperate to make an escape. Still unaware of the contents of their dolls, they secretly try to retrieve them - only to find them guarded by snakes. Brittany and Jeanette "charm" the snakes (this is the result of the song "Getting Lucky"), grabbing the dolls and heading out a window, just as Eleanor arrives carrying a small cooler.
The film now cuts to the Chipmunks, who are camping in an unknown jungle while taking a shortcut. Upon waking up the next morning, they find Theodore missing. While trying to find him, Alvin and Simon are taken captive by some local natives. They soon learn that Theodore is being worshipped as the native's "prince of plenty".
While Alvin and Simon are being made Theodore's servants, the Chipettes learn that Eleanor's cooler contains not food, but the baby penguin, whom Eleanor feels needs to be returned to its parents. The girls soon agree, and head to Antarctica. However, Claudia is alerted to the girl's actions by her henchmen, and concludes that they must have discovered the diamonds, and are trying to make off with them. She orders her henchmen to get the dolls back. As the girls deliver the penguin to its parents, they are attacked by Claudia's henchmen. The Chipettes wrestle with the men as they attempt to steal the dolls, and a doll tears as the henchman falls from the balloon. The henchmen are snowballed by the penguins, and the girls escape. They notice the doll laying on the floor of the balloon, and picking it up, diamonds fall out of it. Opening a Chipmunk doll, they find it full of bills; the Chipettes ralize that the whole race was just a set-up for delivering the diamonds. Deciding the Chipmunks are likely in danger as well, they head off to find them.
Alvin and Simon, now Theodore's attendants, are forced to search a nearby cave for mushrooms. Inside, they find a series of ideograms on the walls, which Simon translates, only to realize the natives will sacrifice Theodore that night under the full moon. All three Chipmunks are tied to stakes, hanging above a pit full of crocodiles. In a desperate attempt to delay their own deaths, they sing the song "Wooly Bully", which lasts just long enough for the Chipettes to rescue them.
Together in the Chipette's balloon, the kids head for home. They are met at the airport by Klaus and Claudia, and are forced into a car under the (fake) threat of Miss Miller being killed. Dave is arriving home to the airport at the same time, and hears Alvin's cries for help. Inspector Jamal runs up, identifying himself, and he and Dave begin to make chase. While it at first appears that Klaus and Claudia will escape, they are accidentally run off the road by Miss Miller, who was heading to the airport to pick up Dave. The police arrest Klaus and Claudia, and the movie ends with Britanny and Alvin arguing over who really won the $100,000.
[edit] Key Characters
- David "David" Seville (voiced by Ross Bagdasarian, Jr.) The adoptive father of Alvin, Simon, and Theodore, Dave is a songwriter who has his hands full keeping track of Alvin's doings.
- The Chipmunks
- Alvin Seville (voiced by Ross Bagdasarian, Jr.) A young chipmunk who always wears a red sweater with a yellow "A" on it, with a matching red cap. He is known for his arrogance and egotism. Both of these traits often get him (and inevitably his brothers) into trouble.
- Simon Seville (voiced by Ross Bagdasarian, Jr.) Alvin's older brother who always wears a blue sweater and glasses, Simon is highly intelligent and extremely practical. He often tries to stop Alvin's schemes, but somehow gets sucked into them.
- Theodore Seville (voiced by Janice Karman) The youngest of the three who always wears a green sweater, Theodore is more passive and kind-hearted than the other two. He enjoys eating, and can easily be bribed by Alvin with food.
- Miss Beatrice Miller (voiced by Dody Goodman) This elderly woman, although well-meaning, is extremely absent minded and has poor hearing. She had adopted the Chipettes.
- The Chipettes
- Brittany Miller (voiced by Janice Karman) Alvin's female counterpart, Brittany is just as arrogant and egotistical. She often bosses her two sisters around.
- Jeanette Miller (voiced by Janice Karman) Like Simon, Jeanette is more intelligent than her siblings. However, she is more timid, and is less likely to attempt to stop Brittany when she's scheming.
- Eleanor Miller (voiced by Janice Karman) The youngest of the Chipettes, Eleanor is plump and motherly, but can stick up for herself.
- Claudia Vorstein/Furschtien (voiced by Susan Tyrrell) A European diamond smuggler, Claudia is extremely ruthless, and at least more confident than her brother Klaus, if not more intelligent. She dotes on her small dog, Sophie.
- Klaus Vorstein/Furschtien (voiced by Anthony De Longis) A European diamond smuggler, Klaus lacks his sister's willingness to go to extremes. He is easily intimidated by Claudia, and reminded often of past failures. He has a fondness for Pierre Cardin socks, and enjoys picking fights with Claudia's dog, Sophie.
- Sophie Vorstein/Furschtien (voiced by Frank Welker) Claudia's small dog who likes annoying Klaus. Once ripped one of Klaus' Pierre cordon socks and made him speed around the pool for getting her wet.
- Inspector Jamal (voiced by Ken Sansom) A detective for INTERPOL, who has been trying to capture Klaus and Claudia.
[edit] The Soundtrack
Like most animated children's movies of the late 20th century, The Chipmunk Adventure features a memorable soundtrack. The film's opening score was performed by the Royal London Philharmonic Orchestra. As both The Chipmunks and Chipettes are considered to be musical groups, they perform many songs through the film. Some of these songs were written specifically for the movie, while others are covers of old classics.
The soundtrack to The Chipmunk Adventure is available on Amazon.com. Its tracks are:
- "Chipmunk Adventure Theme" - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
- "I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi (I Cuanto le Gusta)" - The Chipmunks
- "Off to See the World" - The Chipmunks & The Chipettes
- "Weekend in France, Italy, England, Amsterdam, Greece..." - David Seville & The Chipmunks
- "The Girls of Rock & Roll" - The Chipmunks & The Chipettes
- "Flying With the Eagles" - The Chipmunks & The Chipettes
- "Getting Lucky" - The Chipettes
- "Mexican Holiday" - The Chipmunks
- "My Mother" - The Chipettes
- "Wooly Bully" - The Chipmunks
- "Diamond Dolls" - The Chipettes
[edit] Songs heard in the film but not on the album
- "Underwaterture" - Randy Edelman. Lengthy piece of music recorded for the underwater sequence. Unreleased on record.
- "Come On-a My House" - Dody Goodman. Unreleased on record. Sung briefly by Miss Miller.
- "A Matter of Fact" - Electric Light Orchestra. Recorded in 1986 by that band as source music for the film's "Wooly Bully" sequence. First released as the B-Side to the UK version of that band's "So Serious" single, four months ahead of the film's release. Unavailable in the U.S. until 1990 in its inclusion on that band's first box set, Afterglow.
- "Witch Doctor" - Dody Goodman. Unreleased on record. Sung briefly by Miss Miller.
[edit] Deleted Scenes
- Production stills and concept art available on the DVD show that there was originally a scene in which the boys are captured by dogs in Communist Russia.
- Early concept art also reveals that the producers originally intended to have a scene where the boys drop off a doll in a church confessional and that the sacrifice scene was originally set on top of a Mayan pyramid instead of a crocodile pit. Another sketch shows the boys in some sort of sewer or prison with two men prying open bars at an opening at the top.
[edit] Goofs
- In the "We Are The Boys/Girls of Rock 'n Roll" scene, when the Chipmunks are walking up the stairs, Theodore and Simon's places switch between shots.
- During the "Off to See the World" song, while the boys are delivering the plushies on a Gondola in Venice, Simon is holding an Alvin doll and is preparing to drop it off at the next stop. However, when he drops it off, it has become a Simon doll.
- Near the end of the "Getting Lucky" song, Jeanette and Brittany are both holding armfulls of Chipmunk dolls. When Eleanor enters the scene, only Brittany is holding them, and Jeanette is empty-handed. While it might seem logical that Jeanette could have given her dolls to Brittany while she fashioned a rope out of two snakes, when Brittany climbs down the snakes, she is only holding one doll, leaving one wondering where the rest disappeared to.
- To prove they've gone to every location, the Chipettes must drop off a Chipette doll and pick up a Chipmunk doll. However, during a musical montage, the girls are shown picking up Chipette dolls twice. Once on a windmill and then again on a ski lift.
