Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks
Encyclopedia
Little Alvin and the Mini-Munks is a 2004 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, Jr.
, and directed by Jerry Rees
. It was produced by Bagdasarian Productions
, and was released on DVD
in 2004 by Paramount Home Entertainment. It features puppetry used for the Chipmunks and the Chipettes
.
This is to date, the Chipmunks' last direct-to-video movie.
) believes that having children around is a bad idea. PC (a talking frog
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 has to go out of town, and Lalu is happy to have six pre-schoolers stay with her and her friends. Sam and Lou, two gophers
, report to the viewers at home about the feelings the characters are experiencing. Alvin doesn't like that Dave is gone, and Lalu explains that she felt the same way when she was little. They play the role of Peter Pan
and Captain Hook
for a while.
Later, Lalu 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. Lalu sees that the toilet is filled with a hair brush, tooth picks, a toy horse, shoes, squeak toys, etc. Gilda tells PC that he was supposed to be watching Theodore. Theodore lies and said it was Gilda (Sometimes I Lie). Lalu explains that she was mad about the toilet exploding, but remembers that we all make mistakes sometimes, and tells Theodore of a time she made a mistake. After hearing this, Theodore tells the truth, and Lalu congratulates him.
As Lalu is readying Eleanor for naptime, 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 Lalu stops them. Alvin explains that he and Simon didn't have any toys to play with, until Lalu opens a shelf full of stuffed animals. Lalu explains to Jeanette that eating lipstick could be a problem - for one, it wasn't hers; and two, lipstick isn't good for your tummy. Jeanette decides to get Brittany another lipstick, but doesn't have any money. Lalu suggests that Jeanette work for her, and she could earn enough money to do so, and 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 Lalu intervenes, and suggests 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; cleaning everyone's shoes, makes Lalu's bed, dusts off the furniture, scrubs the kitchen floor (with sponges tied to her boots), helps Lalu with the groceries, and helps Lalu with baking muffins (Jeanette confuses flour with a flower) (I'm So Sorry). Jeanette evenutally 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 with his magic, to try and bring a dead plant back to live and it works!. 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 Lalu's bed.
Next day, Alvin and Simon take some tin foil, saying that it will change the face of science forever. As Theodore follows his brother, 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 Lalu explains to Brittany that we sometimes take things that aren't ours because we really, really want them. And also 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 Lalu 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. Lalu explains that hitting someone isn't nice and that doing so can hurt somebody's feelings. She shows Theodore something that he can hit; a balloon. 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 have Eleanor (the infant
) be a "proper lady". As Lalu, 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 Lalu, 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, Lalu prepares Alvin for bed in the big bed, after having some fun with him. Next day, Alvin, Brittany, Jeanette and Simon wake Lalu up to tell her that she's in their band. But Lalu has to decline and take care of Eleanor (Baby Baby Baby). After many attempts, Lalu 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 Lalu is spending with Eleanor, Alvin becomes jealous (Dumped for Someone New).
Lalu talks to Alvin, and shows that even though she had to help the baby, she still had plenty of love to go around, even for him. They decide to have a special time together whenever Eleanor has her nap, and Alvin can help with Eleanor. Suddenly, Dave arrives, having finished his song, and the Chipmunks and the Chipettes offer to help practice (Friends).
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.
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
film based on the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks: Alvin, the mischievous troublemaker, who quickly became the star of the group; Simon, the tall, bespectacled intellectual;...
' 1983-1990 television series, Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks (TV series)
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated television series featuring The Chipmunks, produced by Bagdasarian Productions in association with Ruby-Spears Enterprises from 1983–87, and DIC Entertainment from 1988-90....
. It was written and created by Janice Karman
Janice Karman
Janice Felice Karman is an American film producer, record producer, singer, and voice artist. She is the co-owner of Bagdasarian Productions with her husband Ross Bagdasarian, Jr....
, produced by Ross Bagdasarian, Jr.
Ross Bagdasarian, Jr.
Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. is an Armenian-American film producer, record producer, singer, and voice artist and the son of the Alvin and the Chipmunks creator Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.-Life and career:...
, and directed by Jerry Rees
Jerry Rees
Jerry W. Rees is an animator and director best known for the 1987 Emmy-nominated animated film The Brave Little Toaster. He supervised and helped create many of the visual effects for the cult classic Tron, and is also a sculptor and fine artist....
. It was produced by Bagdasarian Productions
Bagdasarian Productions
Bagdasarian Productions is an American production company which holds the rights to Alvin and the Chipmunks and related intellectual property assets. It is owned and operated by Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. and Janice Karman...
, and was released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
in 2004 by Paramount Home Entertainment. It features puppetry used for the Chipmunks and the Chipettes
The Chipettes
The Chipettes are a fictional group of anthropomorphic chipmunk singers first appearing on the cartoon series Alvin and the Chipmunks in 1983. In this and related materials, the Chipettes served as female featured characters in their own right, starring in numerous episodes...
.
This is to date, the Chipmunks' last direct-to-video movie.
Plot
The movie opens with Lalu, 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 cockatooCockatoo
A cockatoo is any of the 21 species belonging to the bird family Cacatuidae. Along with the Psittacidae and the Strigopidae , they make up the parrot order Psittaciformes . Placement of the cockatoos as a separate family is fairly undisputed, although many aspects of the other living lineages of...
) believes that having children around is a bad idea. PC (a talking frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
who believes he is one kiss away from being Prince Charming
Prince Charming
Prince Charming is a stock character who appears in a number of fairy tales. He is the prince who comes to rescue of the damsel in distress, and stereotypically, must engage in a quest to liberate her from an evil spell...
) 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 has to go out of town, and Lalu is happy to have six pre-schoolers stay with her and her friends. Sam and Lou, two gophers
Gopher (animal)
The term gopher as it is commonly used does not relate to any one species, but is a generic term used to describe any of several small burrowing rodents endemic to North America, including the pocket gopher , also called true gophers, and the ground squirrel , including Richardson's ground squirrel...
, report to the viewers at home about the feelings the characters are experiencing. Alvin doesn't like that Dave is gone, and Lalu explains that she felt the same way when she was little. They play the role of Peter Pan
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
and Captain Hook
Captain Hook
Captain James Hook is the main antagonist of J. M. Barrie's play Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up and its various adaptations. The character is a villainous pirate captain of the Jolly Roger brig, and lord of the pirate village/harbour in Neverland, where he is widely feared. Most...
for a while.
Later, Lalu tells Gilda, Alvin and Brittany a story about a sea serpent
Sea serpent
A sea serpent or sea dragon is a type of sea monster either wholly or partly serpentine.Sightings of sea serpents have been reported for hundreds of years, and continue to be claimed today. Cryptozoologist Bruce Champagne identified more than 1,200 purported sea serpent sightings...
attacking a ship, when Simon comes in all wet. Simon explains that the toilet exploded, and it was caused by Theodore. Lalu sees that the toilet is filled with a hair brush, tooth picks, a toy horse, shoes, squeak toys, etc. Gilda tells PC that he was supposed to be watching Theodore. Theodore lies and said it was Gilda (Sometimes I Lie). Lalu explains that she was mad about the toilet exploding, but remembers that we all make mistakes sometimes, and tells Theodore of a time she made a mistake. After hearing this, Theodore tells the truth, and Lalu congratulates him.
As Lalu is readying Eleanor for naptime, 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 Lalu stops them. Alvin explains that he and Simon didn't have any toys to play with, until Lalu opens a shelf full of stuffed animals. Lalu explains to Jeanette that eating lipstick could be a problem - for one, it wasn't hers; and two, lipstick isn't good for your tummy. Jeanette decides to get Brittany another lipstick, but doesn't have any money. Lalu suggests that Jeanette work for her, and she could earn enough money to do so, and 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 Lalu intervenes, and suggests 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; cleaning everyone's shoes, makes Lalu's bed, dusts off the furniture, scrubs the kitchen floor (with sponges tied to her boots), helps Lalu with the groceries, and helps Lalu with baking muffins (Jeanette confuses flour with a flower) (I'm So Sorry). Jeanette evenutally 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 with his magic, to try and bring a dead plant back to live and it works!. 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
The Blue Bird (fairy tale)
"The Blue Bird" is a French literary fairy tale by Madame d'Aulnoy, published in 1697. An English translation was included in The Green Fairy Book, 1892, collected by Andrew Lang.The tale is Aarne-Thompson type 432, The Prince as Bird...
), everyone falls asleep in Lalu's bed.
Next day, Alvin and Simon take some tin foil, saying that it will change the face of science forever. As Theodore follows his brother, 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 Lalu explains to Brittany that we sometimes take things that aren't ours because we really, really want them. And also 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 Lalu 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. Lalu explains that hitting someone isn't nice and that doing so can hurt somebody's feelings. She shows Theodore something that he can hit; a balloon. 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 have Eleanor (the infant
Infant
A newborn or baby is the very young offspring of a human or other mammal. A newborn is an infant who is within hours, days, or up to a few weeks from birth. In medical contexts, newborn or neonate refers to an infant in the first 28 days after birth...
) be a "proper lady". As Lalu, 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 Lalu, 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, Lalu prepares Alvin for bed in the big bed, after having some fun with him. Next day, Alvin, Brittany, Jeanette and Simon wake Lalu up to tell her that she's in their band. But Lalu has to decline and take care of Eleanor (Baby Baby Baby). After many attempts, Lalu 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 Lalu is spending with Eleanor, Alvin becomes jealous (Dumped for Someone New).
Lalu talks to Alvin, and shows that even though she had to help the baby, she still had plenty of love to go around, even for him. They decide to have a special time together whenever Eleanor has her nap, and Alvin can help with Eleanor. Suddenly, Dave arrives, having finished his song, and the Chipmunks and the Chipettes offer to help practice (Friends).
Cast
- Ross Bagdasarian, Jr.Ross Bagdasarian, Jr.Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. is an Armenian-American film producer, record producer, singer, and voice artist and the son of the Alvin and the Chipmunks creator Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.-Life and career:...
- David "Dave" Seville, Alvin and Simon (voices) - Janice KarmanJanice KarmanJanice Felice Karman is an American film producer, record producer, singer, and voice artist. She is the co-owner of Bagdasarian Productions with her husband Ross Bagdasarian, Jr....
- Lalu, Theodore and the Chipettes (voices) - Jerry ReesJerry ReesJerry W. Rees is an animator and director best known for the 1987 Emmy-nominated animated film The Brave Little Toaster. He supervised and helped create many of the visual effects for the cult classic Tron, and is also a sculptor and fine artist....
- Lex LangLex LangWalter Alexis "Lex" Lang is a two-time Emmy Award–winning American voice actor, producer and entrepreneur. He is the cofounder of The Love Planet Foundation, a non-profit organization which creates educational materials for children on the importance of recycling, world water awareness, and the...
- PC
Songwriting information
Jai Winding is credited below for having co-written the song "Dumped For Someone New", but this is in name only. Rick WrightRichard Wright (musician)
Richard William Wright was an English pianist, keyboardist and songwriter, best known for his career with Pink Floyd. Wright's richly textured keyboard layers were a vital ingredient and a distinctive characteristic of Pink Floyd's sound...
of Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
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.
Track listing
- Ga Ga Goo [Mini-Munks Theme Song] (Ross BagdasarianRoss Bagdasarian, Jr.Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. is an Armenian-American film producer, record producer, singer, and voice artist and the son of the Alvin and the Chipmunks creator Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.-Life and career:...
/Janice KarmanJanice KarmanJanice Felice Karman is an American film producer, record producer, singer, and voice artist. She is the co-owner of Bagdasarian Productions with her husband Ross Bagdasarian, Jr....
) (2:36) - Sometimes I Lie (Theodore) (2:35)
- I'm So Sorry (The Chipettes) (3:05)
- Why Can't We Play? (Theodore) (Rick WrightRichard Wright (musician)Richard William Wright was an English pianist, keyboardist and songwriter, best known for his career with Pink Floyd. Wright's richly textured keyboard layers were a vital ingredient and a distinctive characteristic of Pink Floyd's sound...
) (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 MillerRandy MillerRandall J. "Randy" Miller was an American musician and drummer for the Seattle-based band, The Myriad.Miller was born in Long Beach, California in 1971 to Jack and Jayne Miller. He moved to Redding, California, in 1985 with his family. Miller graduated from Central Valley High School in Redding in...
) (6:42)