Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked

Chipwrecked is the unfortunate third addition to the CGI/live-action chipmunk flicks (a combination destined for failure) typically including an onslaught of high-pitched cover songs. Dave (Jason Lee) brings the manic, helium-injected Chipmunks and Chipettes on a cruise vacation, quickly landing them on a remote island, complete with a stranded crazy lady (Jenny Slate). Outdated references to Cast Away are among many cultural allusions in a boring script. David Cross (Arrested Development) as Ian, the ex-band manager on a vendetta against Dave, provides the inexcusably lousy movie with a few laughs, but if movies like Toy Story teach us anything, it’s that franchises can be of a consistently high calibre and can be entertaining for all ages. But would someone, please, exterminate these rodents so we don’t have to endure a fourth one? –Molly Segal