Alvin and the Chipmunks

Exclusive DVD extra: "The Music"

The Chipmunks began as a 1950s novelty recording by Ross Bagdasarian Sr., who turned his own voice into a goofy squeak through the magic of recording technology, and became a 1960s phenomenon with hit records and an animated TV show, featuring rascally Alvin, brainy Simon and goofy Theodore, all raised by their songwriter "father" Dave Seville. Now they get the CGI treatment in a new feature film that Variety critic Joe Leydon calls "a harmless and frequently humorous trifle." Starring opposite the computer animated rodents are Jason Lee, as struggling songwriter Dave, and David Cross, as a rapacious record producer. "It doesn't help that, as Lee gives an atypically bland performance as the straitlaced Dave, Cross grabs every scene that isn't bolted to the floor as the shamelessly materialistic and exuberantly snarky Ian," writes Leydon. The DVD includes both wide-screen and full-screen versions of the film along with the 12-minute featurette "Chip-Chip-Hooray! Chipmunk History" (reeling in the Chipmunk years with Ross Bagdasarian Jr.) and "Hitting the Harmony." Also available in Blu-ray format.