ALVINNN!!! AND THE CHIPMUNKS Season 3 Mostly Moral But Marred By Lying
By Movieguide® Contributor
ALVINNN!!! AND THE CHIPMUNKS Season 3 displays the comical lives of chipmunks Alvin, Simon and Theodore and their human father figure, Dave. The animated show currently streams on Netflix and Fubo TV. It is produced by Bagdasarian Productions, the company that first introduced the chipmunk trio in 1961.
As the title suggests, Alvin is the chief mischief maker and ringleader. Every day, if there is fun or trouble to be had, Alvin is determined to make it happen. Never bored, he always has an ambitious plan up his sleeve—whether going to any length to hide his report card, winning the school’s “Cutest Chipmunk” poll or learning karate to fight someone twenty times his size. Their friends, the chippettes—Brittany, Eleanor and Jeanette—also help them have fun and mischief. Each episode is short and follows its own plot, and the naughty chipmunk usually gets caught in his own trap by the end.
Each episode shows the chipmunks set in their own personalities. Theodore can be too timid, Simon is often too focused on being the smartest and Alvin can be a little too Alvin—a little guy with a big ego. Occasionally, circumstances or a friend will help them break out of those habits and flaws.
ALVINNN!!! AND THE CHIPMUNKS Season 3 often displays a moral worldview. The chipmunks frequently help their friends and family. Occasionally, characters go out of their way to do a compassionate act for someone else, even strangers. Many episodes are an indirect and comical way of getting values across. One episode also shows that while luck doesn’t exist, common sense does.
However, at least one character tells a lie in nearly every episode. The fibs are often corrected, but sometimes they aren’t. There are a few mean characters who use words like “jerk,” “idiot” and “dumb.” Two episodes find the chipmunks ghost hunting. Both times, it turns out to be real people, but one of the episodes might be slightly scary for young viewers. Alvin also looks for aliens but doesn’t find any. But the show teases that aliens were watching his attempts the whole time. There is also a little potty humor.
The production of the show is good for the most part. The animation is bright and engaging, and the humor is often spot-on. The show doesn’t stray much from the chipmunks’ other shows and movies. However, many of the human characters’ animation styles clash with the chipmunks’ appearances. The chipmunks’ age is unclear, but they appear to go to school with children in middle or early high school. This conflicts with the chipmunks’ (especially Theodore’s) childlike behavior.
ALVINNN!!! AND THE CHIPMUNKS Season 3 contains some minor questionable elements. The biggest is that it wanders into immoral ground with many lies that are only sometimes made right. The chipmunks mostly tell these tall tales, but on rare occasions, an adult character tells one, too.