Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)

"Alvin and the Chipminks." You know the gist, so I won't get into it. Our three singing chipmunks Alvin, Simon and Theodore cross paths with a music writer, and stardom and laughs ensue. Well, some laughs. Many groans. I was a fan of the '80s cartoon when it was on TV and I still dig the Christmas special they did 25-plus years ago. But this live-action take has Jason Lee on some happy drug as Dave Seville, the music writer, and CGI-animated cartoons as the rodents. Some famous guy voices Alvin, as if it matters with the voice changed to SQUEAK. It's almost critic proof. Almost. I hated Lee, once a fine actor in "Almost Famous," mugging big and announcing every line. He looks pained. The Chipmunks look like CGI chipmunks. C