Movie review: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked **

Stars: Jason Lee, Justin Long, Christina Applegate, Jesse McCartney
Director: Mike Mitchell
Rated: G
Showing: Liberty Theatre week of Friday, December 30. For more information call 292-7296.
Tickets: Buy tickets online
Runtime: 87 minutes
Animation/family

Alvin and the Chipmunks "Munk Up" for their third digitally animated turn on the big screen - Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked, a Cast Away take off that parks the three chipmunks, their three Chipette counterparts and their human family on a deserted island.

Most adults would sooner gouge their ears out than sit through these kids' films. But for captive parents in need of a reference point, Chip-wrecked is twice as funny at their last film, 2009's The Squeakquel.

And the return of Jason Lee as Dave Seville, the rodent wrangler who keeps our pop-singing ground squirrels in line, gives the picture a hint of the heart that made 2007's Alvin and the Chipmunks work, at least for its intended audience.

This time, the squeakers are off on a cruise prior to performing at a big international music awards show. And Alvin being Alvin, mischief is made and puns are purloined.

"I like my tails shaken, not stirred," The Big A (voiced by Justin Long) chirps as he dons a tux and sneaks out to hit the casino.

But that's nothing compared to the disaster Alvin creates on deck.

A kite and hang-gliding accident leads to Chipmunks and Chipettes overboard, with Dave and their disgraced manager, Ian (David Cross), now a lowly costumed ship's mascot, tumbling in after them.

They wash up on an island, the chipmunks in one pack, the humans in another. Each must find food, find ways to make fire and hope for rescue. Maybe they'll even find each other.

Simon, the responsible one, suffers a spider bite that turns him into a French-accented adventurer who goes by the name See-MONE. Thus Alvin finds himself having to be "the responsible one".

Kids may get the Cast Away gags, but they probably won't catch the Lord of the Flies references. The gags and jokes are pretty tame, the script relying a bit too heavily on "Oh no you DIDN'T" sass and kick-in-the-groin "Oh, my ACORNS" cracks aimed at 10-and-unders.

But the message - about giving kids responsibility - and the tone make it hard to hate on these Chip-Wrecked chipmunks.

Next attraction: We Bought a Zoo