Alvin and the Chipmunks

PASSING THOUGHTS
There is a strong temptation to write off movies like this as meaningless fluff or “kid’s stuff”. The story follows the typical formula to perfection, never once throwing a surprise into the mix or taking a more challenging angle. The acting is more exaggerated than Kabuki Theater, and the sentimentality is so overwhelming that it’s almost life-threatening.

To all appearances, “Alvin and the Chipmunks” fits the criteria perfectly; it seems to be all tripe with no redemptive value at all. But if you watch this film at five in the morning with a receptive heart and an open mind, you will find a wealth of symbolism that targets the very core of our humanity, and challenges what we know about ourselves and each other.

The first and most obvious symbolism of the film addresses social definition. In the beginning, the chipmunks are free of constraints and regulations. They are wild, naked, and unabashed. But as they immerse themselves in human culture, they become “civilized”. This process is brought to complete fruition when they are given their clothes. At that moment, they become socially defined and therefore limited in who they can be. Alvin is identified as wearing red, Theodore in green, and Simon in blue. Their garments give the chipmunks individuality, but they also give them boundaries; both expression and limitation. Is the price of being civilized truly worth it?

More symbolism can be found in the garments themselves, as well as in the chipmunks’ names. Simon, the “smart” one wears blue. Blue is a subdued color that represents melancholy. Intellect is often seen as a very lonely and low-key gift, particularly during adolescence. Smart kids are typically the ones picked on and tormented, and this treatment depletes their self-esteem and ushers them into a wilderness of depression.

Also, if you rearrange the letters of Simon’s name, you get “Nismo”, which is a Japanese company that manufactures performance parts for Nissan. Cultural stereotypes generally define people of Asian descent as being highly intelligent, so by subliminal extension, it is implied that Simon is also intelligent. Furthermore, Simon wears glasses, which is another blatant endorsement of stereotypes. People in society who wear glasses are assumed to be both smart and socially awkward, even though eyesight has no known correlation to intelligence or social abilities. What’s even more interesting is that Simon never realizes he needed the glasses until he becomes subjected to cultural expectations. Is it possible that social conformity creates necessity?

Theodore’s wardrobe and name are less flattering than Simon’s. There is a popular phrase that says, “It’s not easy being green”, and that is certainly the case for the pudgiest of the chipmunks who wears a green shirt. First of all, green is another term for “inexperienced” or “naïve”, which is Theodore defined. He is the one who generally seems to lack common sense—he is the one who thinks a garbage can is Dave’s home.

Green is also a color that represents many unpleasant things, such as sewage, radioactive waste, ectoplasm, snot, mold, and dehydrated dung. Theodore’s name only compounds this cacophonous imagery. If you break up the letters in his name, you get, “The odor” with a silent “e”. So we have the images of dung, snot and sewage with “the odor”. Never in literature has a graphic characterization been made using such simple devices. And what does this characterization do? It taints Theodore’s traits, thereby assigning negative connotations to things like clumsiness, buffoonery, slowness of mind, compulsive eating, and uncontrolled bowel movements. Is this an example of media (the movie) merely reflecting society, or is it rather evidence of media creating society?

Alvin’s symbolism seems slightly more complex, but it becomes elementary in hindsight. First, his shirt is red, the color of passion. As the lead singer, he is considered to be the driving force behind the trio; it is his charisma and energy that carries them to greatness. He is the heart and soul of the music—the lifeblood that electrifies and excites. The vibrance of the crimson hue reflects the essence of the animal that wears it.

While the name “Alvin” has no explicit meaning, the bold “A” on his shirt has a very strong implicit meaning. The “A” does not actually stand for “Alvin”, but for “Alpha”, as in the alpha male. He represents what modern men are encouraged to be: dominant, forceful, wild, resourceful, talented, desired, and brash. He easily holds sway over both intellect and naivety, even though the outcome of his actions seldom achieves his purposes. He is given leadership for no other reason than that he claims it, which sends a clear message to the men in society about what is expected of them.

In addition, the emphasis on the alpha encourages the inequality seen in the entertainment industry today. There are three members of the band, all of which sing and dance. Yet Alvin is considered the star—the only one of true importance in the group. He is the Beyonce Knowles of chipmunks.

All the symbolism aside, “Alvin and the Chipmunks” offers one of the most powerful and moving scenes in cinematic history. At one point in the film, Dave becomes angry with Theodore and speaks harshly with him. Completely overwhelmed, the sensitive chipmunk loses control of his bodily functions and defecates on the couch. When Dave asks Theodore about it, Simon steps in and says the excrement is actually a raisin; Dave tells him to prove it.

Without a moment of hesitation, Simon eats the alleged raisin.

Many people would make sacrifices for their family. They would lie, cheat, steal, and even lay down their lives. There are stories of people donating their organs, blood, and bone marrow—others who lost limbs in rescue attempts. But there are very few people on the Earth today that would consume the feces of their siblings.

This scene is the epitome of love and sacrifice, revealing an indestructible and eternal bond that champions the most admirable traits in humanity. I challenge you to watch this scene and not be moved to tears by the bittersweet emotions of such a selfless and noble act.

BASICS
Your Cup O’ Tea:
If you are a parent looking for a wholesome flick for the kids, you were a big fan of the cartoon, or you enjoy strictly formulaic plots that are easy to digest.

Steer Clear:
If you don’t like high-pitched talking and singing or if you’re looking for real substance.

Nothing New Under the Sun:
Same animation/design as “Garfield”, and basic plot and quality of any of the “Ernest” movies.

Buy or Rent:
RENT. What novelty there is in the film will quickly wear off. It might be fun to watch for nostalgia-sake or to entertain the kids, but it won’t be revisited often.

FEATURES

-One side Standard, one side Widescreen (different bonus features on each side)

-Language selection

-Scene Selection

-“Alvin and the Chipmunks” soundtrack (Advertisement)

-Inside Look:
Approx 3.5 minutes. A scene from “Horton Hears a Who”.

-Chip-Chip-Hooray: Chipmunk History:
Approx 12 minutes. Narrated by the creator’s son, Ross Bagdasarian Jr., (who also did the voice of Dave on the Saturday morning shows) this feature explores the history of how Alvin and his friends came to be. It looks at their commercial success, the reinventing of the characters, and the chipmunk revivals that have taken place. It shows clips from the movie, but also has pictures and scenes from the old shows and marketing materials.
DUH! FACTOR: 0 out of 10

-Hitting the Harmony:
Approx 8.5 minutes. Examines the music production aspect of the film. Not a lot of interest here until about four minutes into it where we see how much work went into making the chipmunks “sing”.
DUH! FACTOR: 8 out of 10

Would Have Been Nice: If I had been a bigger chipmunk fan to start with.