The Chipmunk Adventure

The Chipmunk Adventure
The Chipmunk Adventure
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Janice Karman
Written by	Ross Bagdasarian Sr.; Ross Bagdasarian Jr.; Janice Karman
Produced by	Ross Bagdasarian Jr.
Starring	Ross Bagdasarian Jr.; Janice Karman; Dody Goodman
Edited by	Tony Mizgalski
Music by	Randy Edelman
Distributed by	Theatrical:; The Samuel Goldwyn Company; DVD:; Paramount Home Entertainment
Release dates	May 22, 1987
Running time	77 min.
Country
Language	English
Budget	N/A
Box office	$6,804,312

The Chipmunk Adventure is a 1987 animated film featuring the characters from NBC's Saturday morning cartoon Alvin and the Chipmunks. Marking the first appearance of The Chipmunks in a feature film since their 1958 debut, The Chipmunk Adventure was directed by Janice Karman (one of the very few times women had done so for an animated feature), and features the voices of Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., Janice Karman, and Dody Goodman. It is also Jolene Stoffle's favorite film. Fact.

Plot

When Dave Seville goes off to Europe on a business trip, Alvin, Simon, and Theodore are left at home with their rather absent-minded babysitter, Miss Miller - much to the chagrin of Alvin, who dreams of world travel. While the three are playing an arcade game of Around the World in Thirty Days with the Chipettes, Alvin and Brittany begin to argue over which would win an actual race around the world. Their conversation is being eavesdropped on by siblings Klaus and Claudia Vorstein, two European diamond smugglers running out of ways of getting their wares to customers without government interference. Seeing an opportunity, the Vorsteins approach the children, telling them that they will provide them with the means for a real race around the world by hot air balloon, with the winner receiving $100,000.

After tricking Miss Miller with a phony phone call from Dave, the Chipmunks and Chipettes meet at the Vorstein's mansion, where they are told the rules: each team is given a separate route to follow, along with a chest of dolls, made in their own likenesses, which they are required to drop off to verify that they have visited all checkpoints. Upon dropping off one of their own dolls, they will receive a doll made in the likeness of the opposing team. In reality, the dolls being dropped off are filled with diamonds, and the dolls received are filled with cash, given to them by the buyers.

Before they take off, Simon warns Jeanette not to take the easternly route because of a hurricane. However, Brittany overhears him and ignores his advice, believing it to be a trick to slow them down.

Both teams begin their travels; while the Chipmunks go to Mexico City, the Chipettes are caught in a hurricane (as Simon predicted) before reaching Bermuda. Unknown to both teams, however, they are being trailed by two rather-intimidating looking INTERPOL agents, sent by Inspector Jamal, who was informed by Klaus and Claudia's butler, Mario, of the Vorstein's operation. The agents silently follow behind as the Chipmunks and Chipettes travel through South America and Africa, visiting Machu Picchu, Rio de Janeiro, Angel Falls, Istanbul, and Venice. More time is given to the countries and sites the Chipettes see, including the white cliffs of Dover, the Netherlands, Switzerland, London, Rome (where they visit the Colosseum), the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and Germany.

Both teams meet up in Athens, where Alvin and Brittany begin bickering, each claiming they can "out-rock and roll" the other. This results in the performance of the song "Girls and Boys of Rock & Roll" amongst the Grecian ruins, with Dave and the two INTERPOL agents nearly spotting them.

The Chipettes then travel on to Egypt, passing the Sphinx. There, they are chased by a group of men on camel. Despite their attempts to fight them off, the girls are captured, and brought to their young prince, (voiced by Nancy Cartwright). The Prince falls in love with Brittany and, oblivious to the diamond smuggling, agrees to return the valuable dolls to Jamal but declares that he is keeping the girls, and making Brittany his bride.

Despite being showered with gifts, including a baby penguin, the Chipettes are desperate to make an escape. Still unaware of the contents of their dolls, they secretly try to retrieve them - only to find them guarded by snakes. Brittany and Jeanette "charm" the snakes by singing "Getting Lucky", then grab the dolls and escape out a window, just as Eleanor arrives carrying a small cooler.

The film cuts to the Chipmunks, who are camping in a jungle near a native village in Fiji while taking a shortcut. Theodore senses something is wrong, and he know something's out in the jungle. Simon and Alvin just think his imagination is running wild, with Alvin saying, "Oh, he's still afraid of the bogeyman." Upon waking up the next morning, they find Theodore missing. While trying to find him, Alvin and Simon are taken captive by some local natives. They soon learn that Theodore is being worshipped as the natives' "Prince of Plenty". Alvin and Simon are quickly forced to wear loin clothes and are made into Theodore's personal servants.

Meanwhile, the Chipettes learn that Eleanor's cooler contains not only food, but the baby penguin, whom Eleanor feels needs to be returned to its parents in Antarctica. At first Birttany is confused ("You were going to eat this penguin?!?"). After the song "My Mother", the girls soon agree, and head to Antarctica. However, Claudia is alerted to the girl's actions by her henchmen, and concludes that they must have discovered the diamonds and are trying to make off with them. She orders her henchmen to get the dolls back.

As the girls deliver the penguin to its parents, they are attacked by Claudia's henchmen. The Chipettes wrestle with the men as they attempt to steal the dolls, and a doll tears as the henchman falls from the balloon. Grateful to the Chipettes, the penguins snowball the henchmen into submission and the girls escape. They then notice the torn doll lying on the floor of the balloon; Jeanette picks it up and diamonds fall out of it. Opening a Chipmunk doll, they find it full of bills; the Chipettes realize that the whole race was just a set-up for delivering the diamonds. Deciding the Chipmunks are likely in danger as well, they head off to find them.

Alvin and Simon, meanwhile, are forced to search a nearby cave for mushrooms for "Prince Theodore," with Alvin growing increasingly fed-up with the situation ("3:00 in the morining, and Prince Theodore has a craving for MUSHROOMS! I hope he chokes on 'em!"). Inside the cave, they find a series of ideograms on the walls, which Simon translates as "Sacrifice the Prince of Plenty on the full moon." They then look up and see a full moon overhead. Alvin looks at Simon and exclames, "Over my dead body!" but in the next scene, all three Chipmunks are tied to stakes by the natives, hanging precariously above a pit full of crocodiles. In a desperate attempt to delay their own deaths, they sing the song "Wooly Bully", which pleases the natives and lasts just long enough for the Chipettes to rescue them.

Together in the Chipettes' balloon, the kids return to Los Angeles. They are met at the airport by Klaus and Claudia, and after a high energy chase through the baggage claim( they sing Diamond Dolls),are forced into a car under the false threat of Miss Miller being kidnapped. Dave is arriving home to the airport at the same time, and hears Alvin's cries for help. Inspector Jamal runs up, identifying himself, and he and Dave begin to make chase. While it at first appears that Klaus and Claudia will escape, they are accidentally run off the road by none other than Miss Miller, who was heading to the airport to pick up Dave. The police arrest Klaus and Claudia, and Brittany and Alvin begin arguing over who really won the $100,000. An exasperated Dave breaks up the argument and guides them to Miss Miller's car, where the others await. Alvin hounds Dave about the race, irritating Miss Miller into telling him to shut up and causing Dave to lose his temper and yell his trademark "ALLLLLLLLVVIN!!!" as the credits begin to roll.

Cast and characters

Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. as David "Dave" Seville, the adoptive father of Alvin, Simon, and Theodore, Dave is a songwriter who has his hands full keeping track of Alvin's doings.

Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. as Alvin Seville, the leader of his brothers, who always wears a red sweater with a yellow "A" on it, with a matching red cap (which he, most likely, would give his life for). He is known for his arrogance and egotism. Both of these traits often get him (and inevitably his brothers) into trouble.

Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. as Simon Seville, is the tallest of the Chipmunks, who always wears a blue sweater and blue glasses. Simon is highly intelligent and extremely practical, with a very dry sense of humor. He often tries to stop Alvin's schemes, but somehow gets sucked into them.

Janice Karman as Theodore Seville, the youngest of the three who always wears a green sweater. He's the loveable sweetheart. Theodore is more passive and kind-hearted than the other two. He enjoys eating, and can easily be bribed by Alvin with food.

Dody Goodman as Beatrice Miller, the Chipettes' surrogate mother and legal guardian.

Janice Karman as Brittany Miller, the "Alvin" of the Chipettes, is just as arrogant and egotistical. She often bosses her two sisters around, as she's the leader. She also has a good heart, and loves her sisters dearly.

Janice Karman as Jeanette Miller, like Simon, is more intelligent than her siblings and is the tallest child. However, she is clumsy, timid, and less likely to attempt to stop Brittany when she's scheming.

Janice Karman as Eleanor Miller, Like Theodore, she's the youngest of the Chipettes. Eleanor is plump and motherly, but can stand up for herself. She, unlike Jeanette, has no problem standing up to Brittany when she believes something is wrong.

Susan Tyrrell as Claudia Vorstein/Furschtein, a European diamond smuggler. Claudia is extremely ruthless, mean, and a spoiled brat, but at least more confident than her brother, Klaus, if not more intelligent. She dotes on her small dog, Sophie.

Anthony De Longis as Klaus Vorstein/Furschtein, a European diamond smuggler, Klaus lacks his sister's willingness to go to extremes. He is easily intimidated by Claudia, and reminded often of past failures. He has a fondness for Pierre Cardin socks, and enjoys picking fights with Claudia's dog, Sophie, who's just as spoiled and as bratty as her mama. Furschtien (IMDb's credits list their last name as Furshtien, while the film's closed captioning spells it as Vorstein)

Frank Welker as Sophie Vorstein/Furschtein, Claudia's small dog who likes annoying Klaus. Once ripped one of Klaus' Pierre Cardin socks and put a hole in his floating bed, making him speed around the pool for getting her wet.

Ken Sansom as Inspector Jamal, a detective for the Lakehurst branch of INTERPOL, who has been trying to capture Klaus and Claudia for years.

Nancy Cartwright as an Arabian Prince, a spoiled and bratty Arabian prince who wants Brittany for his bride.

Production

After the success of his animated cartoon series on NBC, Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. began developing a concept for a full-length feature film. Fortunately for Bagdasarian Productions, the box-office failure of Disney's The Black Cauldron in 1985 had led to the layoff of a number of Disney animators, who Bagdasarian promptly hired to work on his film. The result was extremely high-caliber animation.

Bagdasarian and his wife Janice Karman decided to finance the project themselves, having generated so much revenue from the Alvin and the Chipmunks TV series. Their decision to work with several overseas studios led to major production delays. By late 1986, production had fallen far behind schedule. A shortage of time and money resulted in major cuts being made to the film (the final version that was released in theaters was just over an hour long). The Chipmunk Adventure opened May 22, 1987, earning only $2,584,720 on its opening weekend, and at the time of its original released it was a box office flop, earning only $6,804,312, but became a cult classic on home video.

This film was produced by Bagdasarian Productions, and distributed to movie theatres by The Samuel Goldwyn Company. It was released on VHS by Lorimar in the 1980s, and Universal Studios Home Entertainment in the late 1990s. On May 23, 2006, the movie was released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment, digitally remastered from the original 35mm film and presented with 5.1 surround sound. A special edition DVD re-release of the film with a bonus CD (which is the same soundtrack disc) was released on April 1, 2008, which matches that of the live-action/computer-animated Alvin and the Chipmunks and another DVD volume of Alvin and the Chipmunks Go to the Movies.[1] The film is the only animated film theatrically released in widescreen and released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment that is shown on DVD in full screen only.

Soundtrack

The film's opening score was performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. As both The Chipmunks and Chipettes are considered to be musical groups, they perform many songs through the film. Some of these songs were written specifically for the movie, while others are covers of old classics. On April 1, 2008, the soundtrack was re-released as a bonus CD on the film's DVD.

The soundtrack to The Chipmunk Adventure is available on Amazon.com. Track listing:

"Chipmunk Adventure Theme" - Royal London Philharmonic Orchestra
"I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi (I Cuanto le Gusta) - The Chipmunks
"Off to See the World - The Chipmunks and the Chipettes
"Weekend in France, Italy, England, Amsterdam, Greece..." - David Seville and the Chipmunks (heard instrumentally in the film)
"The Girls and Boys of Rock and Roll" - The Chipmunks and the Chipettes
"Flying With the Eagles" - The Chipmunks and the Chipettes (not heard in the film)
"Getting Lucky" - The Chipettes
"Mexican Holiday" - The Chipmunks (heard instrumentally in the film)
"My Mother" - The Chipettes
"Wooly Bully" - The Chipmunks
"Diamond Dolls" - The Chipettes (unlike the film version, the soundtrack version sounds low-pitched)
BONUS TRACK: "Leader of the Pack" - The Chipmunks

Songs heard in the film but not on the album

"Underwaterture" - Randy Edelman. Lengthy piece of music recorded for the underwater sequence. Unreleased on record.
"Come On-a My House" - Dody Goodman. Unreleased on record. Sung briefly by Miss Miller.
"A Matter of Fact" - Electric Light Orchestra. Recorded in 1986 by that band as source music for the film's "Wooly Bully" sequence. First released as the B-Side to the UK version of that band's "So Serious" single, four months ahead of the film's release. Unavailable in the U.S. until 1990 in its inclusion on that band's first box set, Afterglow.
"Witch Doctor" - Dody Goodman. Unreleased on record. Sung briefly by Miss Miller.

Deleted scenes

Production stills and concept art available on the DVD show that there was originally a scene in which the boys are captured by dogs in Russia.
Early concept art also reveals that the producers originally intended to have a scene where the boys drop off a doll in a church confessional and that the sacrifice scene was originally set on top of a Mayan pyramid instead of a crocodile pit. Another sketch shows the boys in some sort of sewer or prison with two men prying open bars at an opening at the top.

External links