More than hyperactive enough to engage small fry with microscopic attention spans, "Alvin and the Chipmunks" also has built-in nostalgia appeal for baby-boomer parents and grandparents willing to ...

Meanwhile, Ian, who has been such a good snake in the grass, has essentially been defanged. The new fly in the ointment is Zoe (Jenny Slate), who’s been stranded on the island for years.

In contrast to Dave Seville, who is the Chipmunks' beleaguered but compassionate adoptive father and manager, the Chipettes ...

The Chipmunks movies are made quickly and with thrift relative to fully CG animated movies — the budget on the latest installment, which is more than 70% animated, was $80 million.

Ian latches onto the Chipettes as his return to the top, boldly proclaiming that they’ll make the world forget about the Chipmunks. OK. Maybe if they were singing porcupines, he’d have a point.

Meanwhile, disgraced former record exec Ian Hawk (David Cross) — who was force-fed just desserts in the previous pic after exploiting the Chipmunks — sees a chance to jumpstart his stalled ...