Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks
Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks is a 2003 direct-to-video film based on the Chipmunks' 1983-1990 television series, Alvin and the Chipmunks. It was written and created by Janice Karman, produced by Ross Bagdasarian, and directed by Jerry Rees. It was produced by Bagdasarian Productions, and was released on DVD in 2003 by Paramount Home Entertainment. It features puppetry used for the Chipmunks and the Chipettes.
| Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Jerry Rees |
| Produced by | Ross Bagdasarian Jr. |
| Written by |
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| Based on | |
| Starring |
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| Music by | Randy Miller |
| Cinematography | John Lawrence |
| Edited by | David Ginsberg |
Production company | Bagdasarian Productions |
| Distributed by | Paramount Home Entertainment |
Release date |
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Running time | 80 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
To date, this is the Chipmunks' last direct-to-video movie.
Plot
The movie opens with La-Lu, a friend of David Seville, putting up a banner saying "Welcome Chipmunks" on the porch of her magic cottage. One of her friends, Gilda (a talking pessimistic cockatoo) believes that having children around is a bad idea. PC (a talking laid back frog with a surfer dude accent who believes he is one kiss away from being Prince Charming) says that his mom used to say "nothing warms up a home like children's laughter".
Dave arrives with Alvin, Brittany, Simon, Jeanette, Theodore, and Eleanor. Dave needs the weekend to himself to write a new song, and La-Lu is happy to have five pre-schoolers and a baby stay with her and her friends. Sam and Lou, two gophers, report to the viewers at home about the feelings the characters are experiencing via going into their heads and viewing an abstract inner visual manifestation of what the characters are thinking and or feeling. Alvin doesn't like that Dave is gone, and La-Lu explains that she felt the same way when she was little and reassures him that Dave will return for him and the others soon. They play the role of Peter Pan and Captain Hook for a while.
Later, La-Lu tells Gilda, Alvin and Brittany a story about a sea serpent attacking a ship, when Simon comes in all wet. Simon explains that the toilet exploded, and it was caused by Theodore. La-Lu sees that the toilet is filled with a hair brush, toothpaste, a toy horse, shoes, squeaky toys, etc. Gilda tells PC that he was supposed to be watching Theodore. Feeling scared, Theodore lies and said it was Gilda (Sometimes I Lie). La-Lu comforts Theodore and explains that she was mad about the toilet exploding at first, but then remembered that we all make mistakes sometimes; she tells Theodore of a time she made a mistake, and her father taught her how mistakes are easy to learn from. Even the toilet even comes to life to voice her displeasure over the experience. After hearing this, Theodore tells the truth and vows to never play with the toilet again, and La-Lu congratulates him. Later, she gets him ready for his nap.
As La-Lu is entertaining baby Eleanor, Brittany comes in saying that Jeanette stole and ate her lipstick. As PC sings "Rock-a-Bye Chipmunk" to Eleanor, Alvin and Simon try to steal a napping Theodore's teddy bear with a fishing line, but La-Lu stops them. Alvin explains that he and Simon didn't have any toys to play with, until La-Lu opens a shelf full of stuffed animals. La-Lu explains to Jeanette that eating lipstick could be a problem - for one, it wasn't hers; and two, lipstick isn't good for your body. Jeanette decides to buy Brittany another lipstick, but doesn't have any money. La-Lu suggests that Jeanette work for her, so she could earn enough money to do so; Jeanette agrees.
Alvin comes in dressed as "Super Alvin", hiding from Simon who is dressed as a magician. Simon demands his cape back. They get into a fight, until La-Lu intervenes, suggesting that they figure out a way to take turns with the cape.
Suddenly, Jeanette comes in, dressed in yellow boots, an apron, gloves, a smog mask, ear covers and a feather duster (surprising Alvin and Simon), saying that she was ready for work; she cleans everyone's shoes, makes La-Lu's bed, dusts off the furniture, scrubs the kitchen floor (with sponges tied to her boots), helps La-Lu with the groceries, and helps La-Lu with baking muffins (Jeanette confuses flour with a flower) (I'm So Sorry). Jeanette eventually makes enough money to buy Brittany a new lipstick.
Meanwhile, Simon turns on a fan to help "Super Alvin" fly in the air, but he ultimately falls. Afterwards, Alvin and Simon try to use his magic to bring Simon's dead plant back to live and it works. (However, this was only Sam and Lou's doing.) That night at dinner, they get a call from Dave. The children explain what they did that day, and soon after a story (The Blue Bird), everyone falls asleep in La-Lu's bed.
Next day, Alvin and Simon take some tin foil, with Simon saying that it will change the face of science forever. As Theodore follows his brothers, Brittany comes in saying that Jeanette stole her oven. Jeanette claims she "borrowed" it. She explains that every time she asks, Brittany always says no. As Jeanette leaves to clean up the mess, a coin falls from Brittany's pocket. She explains that Tyler from school gave it to her, but Gilda comes in and says Tyler's mom called, saying that Tyler lost his coin. Then La-Lu explains to Brittany that we sometimes take things that aren't ours because we really, really want them; she also explains that it is okay to be sad, but it is not okay to take things that aren't ours. Brittany realizes that Tyler is feeling bad, and has to give back his coin.
Meanwhile, as La-Lu and Brittany go to Tyler's to return his coin, Alvin and Simon have used the tin foil to build a spaceship, pretending to be aliens. Theodore wants in on the fun, but his brothers say no, hurting Theodore's feelings (Why Can't We Play?). Feeling sad and angry at the same time, Theodore feels the need to hit Alvin. La-Lu explains that it's okay to feel upset, but it is never okay to hit others. She shows Theodore something that he can hit; a bear-shaped balloon dummy. Suddenly, Alvin comes and invites Theodore to play.
As they prepare for a tea party, Brittany explains that she feels much better about everything. Then Jeanette comes in after cleaning Brittany's oven, after which Brittany invites Jeanette to their tea time. Meanwhile, Gilda tries to teach Eleanor (the infant) how to be a "proper lady". As La-Lu, Brittany and Jeanette enjoy their tea party, Simon dressed in tin foil surprises everyone, chasing off Brittany and Jeanette. Then Alvin with Theodore and PC on his shoulders, dressed in tin foil as well surprise La-Lu, who takes Eleanor with her as she runs away from the "monster". Sam and Lou also surprise Gilda by dressing up in tin foil.
That night, La-Lu prepares Alvin for bed in the big bed, after having some fun with him. The next day, Alvin, Brittany, Jeanette and Simon wake La-Lu up to tell her that she's in their band. La-Lu asks them to wait while she takes care of a fussy Eleanor (Baby Baby Baby). After many attempts, La-Lu decides to call the doctor. The reason for her crying is that she had to burp and now needs her diaper changed. Seeing how much time La-Lu is spending with Eleanor, Alvin starts to become jealous (Dumped for Someone New).
La-Lu comforts Alvin, and shows that even though she had to help the baby, she still has plenty of love to go around, even for him. They decide to have special time together whenever Eleanor has her nap, and that Alvin can help with Eleanor, to which Alvin agrees. Suddenly, Dave arrives, having finished his song, and the Chipmunks and the Chipettes offer to help practice (Friends). The movie closes with Alvin turning off the lights in the house mischievously, despite Dave's protests until he finally yells, "ALVIIIINNNNN!".
Cast
- Ross Bagdasarian - David "Dave" Seville, Alvin and Simon (voices)
- Janice Karman - La-Lu, Theodore and the Chipettes (voices)
- Jerry Rees - Sam & Lou
- Lex Lang - PC
- Mona Marshall - Toilet
- Vanessa Bagdasarian - Gilda
Soundtrack
| Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Alvin and the Chipmunks | ||||
| Released | November 15, 2004 | |||
| Length | 25:50 | |||
| Label | Chipmunk Records (manufactured by Rykodisc) | |||
| Producer | Jerry Rees, Ross Bagdasarian, Janice Karman and Keith Wechser | |||
| Alvin and the Chipmunks chronology | ||||
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Songwriting information
Jai Winding is credited below for having co-written the song "Dumped for Someone New", but this is in name only. Rick Wright of Pink Floyd co-wrote the lyrics to "Why Can't We Play?", but his name does not appear in the CD program booklet. The track listing below reflects the actual authors of the songs. The song Friends is also featured in the ALVINNN!!! and the Chipmunks episode Chimpmania.
Track listing
- "Ga Ga Goo (Mini-Munks Theme Song)" (The Chipmunks and The Chipettes) (Ross Bagdasarian/Janice Karman) (2:36)
- "Sometimes I Lie" (Theodore) (2:35)
- "I'm So Sorry" (The Chipettes) (3:05)
- "Why Can't We Play?" (Theodore) (Rick Wright) (2:13)
- "Baby Baby Baby" (The Chipettes) (2:38)
- "Dumped for Someone New" (Alvin, Simon, Theodore, Brittany and Jeanette sing chorus) (Jai Winding) (3:13)
- "Friends" (The Chipmunks and the Chipettes) (3:04)
- "Candlelight Lullaby" (Instrumental) (Randy Miller) (6:42)