Alvin and the Chipmunks

When struggling songwriter Dave Seville (Jason Lee) stumbles on three singing chipmunks, his quiet life flips into chaotic opportunity. The brash Alvin, bookish Simon and sweet-natured Theodore win Dave over, so he takes them in and tries to shape them into a marketable act. Their charms land them local gigs and then a shot at bigger exposure in Los Angeles, where the trio's antics clash with career pressures and the pragmatic music business. Dave's relationships are tested too, as he deals with pushy industry types and tries to help the chipmunks grow, while maintaining a warm, family-oriented heart to the story.

Released in 2007 and directed by Tim Hill, the movie adapts characters created by Ross Bagdasarian with contributions from Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi. It mixes live-action performances with CGI character animation, and features Justin Long as the voice of Alvin alongside Jason Lee, David Cross, Cameron Richardson and Jane Lynch in live roles.

It was a solid box office performer, turning the classic cartoon property into a profitable live-action franchise and paving the way for multiple sequels and family-friendly merchandising.

Reviews were mixed, and audiences gave it a middling user rating of 5.826 out of 10 from 4,654 votes. Critics often noted the movie's obvious focus on younger viewers, praising the energetic songs and slapstick while criticizing thin plotting and uneven adult humor. The film leans into themes of caretaking, the lure of fame and learning responsibility, all wrapped in bright visuals and crowd-pleasing pop covers.

While not a critics' darling, the picture brought Alvin, Simon and Theodore back into mainstream awareness and introduced them to a new generation. The character designs and modern pop arrangements were used across toys, TV spots and soundtrack releases, and the movie's success encouraged studios to keep the franchise active with sequels and related media.