The Chipmunk Adventure

What type of film tries a weaker line than the animated children’s musical, targeting as usual to two really unequal age groups, both really easily bored? At least “The Chipmunk Adventure,” released in 1987, tires to interest both parents and children and does a really well job. Janet Maslin stated in her review, “For the parents, there are references to high finance, bored jet-setters and Pierre Cardin socks.” For the children, there are nice, colorful Chipmunks on an around-the-world tour. For everyone there is music, including a Chipmunk-style version of Wolly Bully and a nice, corny song to Mother.

“The Chipmunk Adventure” comes from Ross Bagdasarian, son of Ross Bagdasarian Sr., the Chipmunks’ original creator, and his wife, Janice Karman. It is animated in typical Saturday-morning cartoon style, so that the non-Chipmunk characters look lifeless and the backgrounds never move. However, if the way it looks is minor, it has other delights. Maslin noted, “The Chipmunks - the ringleader Alvin, the brainy Simon and the always-hungry little Theodore - are a lot less saccharine than the Care Bears, and they behave like real boys.” Their supporting cast in here, their first feature film, includes the Chipettes (all voiced by Janice Karman) and a really cute baby penguin (Frank Welker).

The Chipmunks (Ross Badgasarian, Jr. and Janice Karman) are left alone when Dave Seville, their human guardian (Badgasarian, Jr.), goes on a trip overseas. They soon are bribed by a pair of evil foreigners named Klaus (Anthony De Longis) and Claudia (Susan Tyrrell). The Chipmunks are fooled into going on an around-the-world balloon race, which is really part of Klaus and Claudia’s diamond-smuggling mission. To get the Chipmunks to do this, the stunning villains offer a $100,000 prize to the winner, and suggest that the boys compete against the girls. Maslin advised, “Parents may be surprised at the enthusiasm shown by both all-too-modern Chipmunk teams for that large cash prize.”

The balloon trip results in a lot of scenery, and children will undeniably enjoy animated versions of llamas, windmills, famous landmarks and everything else. There is also an enjoyable dance song with animated cobras, and a couple of honors to the late Badgasarian, Sr. He was the composer of some original songs as Witch Doctor and Come on a My House, and both are in this movie.

Out of all the Chipmunk movies, this one is probably the only good one. It suffers from a lack of focus, like the later live-action movies and the battle of the genders don’t really end with any sort of resolution. However, it does have the enjoyment of those who actually grew up with the Chipmunks cartoon and everything else. This one I think should be harmless for families. I don’t think it will hurt to check it out, even though it does have its own share of flaws.

Well, that ends “80s Cartoons Movie Month.” I hope everyone enjoyed all my reviews this month and…wait a minute, next month is October. You know what that means…Halloween Month!! Just a reminder, this year will be the first of shorter reviews that will not take up the entire month. I’m really excited this time around because I will be looking at a series of films that I have wanted to look at for a long time.