In a section of the film industry riddled with D-rate crew members (one in which a title like "highest grossing talking animal/live-action cartoon adaptation of all time", which the original holds, doesn't sound patently ridiculous) Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel actually fares pretty well. Collectively, their credits include Charlie’s Angels, Stuart Little, Ice Age, Kung-Fu Panda, and the TV show Doug. So what plot have these chefs cooked up for this chipmunk stew?
After being exploited by a record producer in their first film, the Chipmunks end their popular singing act, and try to adjust to school life. In an attempt to save their school music program, the Chipmunks—Alvin, Simon, and Theodore—enter a $25,000 battle of the bands. Their competition are three new singing rodents, The Chipettes. Discovered by the newly actless producer (David Cross), Brittany, Eleanor and Jeanette are hot new talent, friendly rivals derived from 1980s fare, like the feature film A Chipmunk Movie.
A followup to the popular 2007 film, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel will be released Christmas Day, 2009.
Producers, Director Have Successful Credits To Name
Squeakquel director Betty Thomas started her career in Hollywood as an actress in the 1970s and 1980s, with her big break coming as Lucy Bates on Hill Street Blues, a role that lasted for 115 episodes. A producer for films like Charlie’s Angels, I Spy, and Surviving Christmas, she’s made a career for herself behind the camera as a director for The Brady Bunch Movie, Doctor Dolittle, 28 Days, I Spy, and John Tucker Must Die.
So what was the driving force for Thomas deciding to direct The Squeakquel? According to the Los Angeles Times: fond memories. “I’m pretty sure [Let's All Sing With the Chipmunks] was my first album. I thought it was the coolest thing. It was my entry into the music world.”
Returning producer Karen Rosenfelt has two of the Twilight movies to her credit, as well as The Devil Wears Prada and Marley & Me. She’s also behind the 2010 film Yogi Bear, which includes Squeakquel voice actress Anna Faris in a lead role. Another repeat is producer Steve Waterman, who has live-action/animation films like Casper (1995), Stuart Little (1999), and Stuart Little 2 (2002) to his name. Also producing the film are Ross Bagdasarian Jr. and his wife Janice Karman; Ross is heir to his father's popular creation, and he and his wife have overseen every Chipmunks project since their original revival in the 1980s.
Squeakquel Writers Penned For Nickelodeon, DreamWorks
Returning writer Chris Viscardi has written for TV series like The Adventures of Pete & Pete, TeenNick series The Assistants, and Naked Brothers Band. Originally having cut his teeth writing the movie Snow Day, he wrote Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging and animated film The Tale of Desperaux between Chipmunk pictures. Also returning is Will McRobb, whose recent credits almost perfectly mirror Chris’. His career started a bit earlier, though, at Nickelodeon as story editor for Rocko's Modern Life, and writer for Doug, The Ren and Stimpy Show, and Radio Free Roscoe.
New to the series are MADtv veterans Glenn Berger and Jonathan Aibel, whose animation writing chops were honed on DreamWorks Animation films Kung Fu Panda and Monsters vs Aliens. They’re currently working on the feature Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom, which is due out in 2011.
Primetime Emmy Award-winner Jon Vitti has had a successful career, with many forays into animation, besides the first Chipmunk movie. Partly responsible for the The Simpsons Movie screenplay (including the song "Spider Pig"), he has consulted on the movies Ice Age, Robots, Ice Age: The Meltdown, and Horton Hears a Who! Previously, Vitti served as a writer and consulting producer for King of the Hill and producer/co-producer for The Simpsons. Next up for Vitti is DreamWorks project Boo U., currently in development.
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