ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUCKS: CHIPWRECKED
A light family comedy with musical fun and positive values.
Should You Watch It?
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked offers an entertaining family comedy with fun musical numbers, funny situations, and positive family values. Its central lesson is worthwhile: family members learn to love each other, work together, and apologize for their wrongdoings.
The movie is also lightweight. Its predictable plot is weak at points, and some of the humor grows out of disobedience and chaos. Families should also know that gambling occurs on the ship, while the Chipmunks’ talking back to their father figure is sometimes condoned.
If your family enjoys musical comedy and can discuss those concerns, this is worth the trip.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAlvin, Simon, Theodore, Dave, and the Chipettes—Jeanette, Eleanor, and Brittany—set off on a family cruise. After Alvin’s troublemaking leads to disaster, the group washes up on a deserted island.
Separated from Dave and their former manager, Ian, the Chipmunks and Chipettes must learn to survive in the wilderness and get along with each other. Along the way, they meet Zoe, a longtime island resident with some unusual friends.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is an entertaining but lightweight comedy. The movie has fun musical numbers and funny situations, and its family-centered ending gives the story a redemptive finish.
The plot is predictable and weak at points. Still, the characters’ lessons about loving one another, working together as a family, and apologizing for wrongdoing give the comedy a positive foundation.
The Worldview
The film strongly extols family, love, and working together. It ultimately rebukes disobedience and includes redemptive elements in which the bad characters say they are sorry and ask for forgiveness.
That moral emphasis aligns with biblical values. The film also looks down upon revenge and grudges. However, talking back is not always rebuked, so parents may want to discuss the difference between honest disagreement and disrespect toward a father figure. The story’s positive values are presented within a playful comedy that also includes gambling and suggestive dancing.
The film’s central longing is for family members to love one another and live together in unity. Scripture says, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong moral worldview extolling family, love, and working together and rebuking disobedience, plus some redemptive elements where the bad guys say they are sorry and ask for forgiveness; no foul language; light violence includes children shoot adults with water guns, chipmunks hit each other and push, Ian and Dave push each other; no sexual content but Chipettes have a dance off with women who dance suggestively and kissing occurs between Chipmunks and Chipettes; upper male nudity, women in club style dresses, girl chipmunks in towels; no drinking; no smoking, no drugs; and, gambling, lying, talking back is not always rebuked, revenge, and grudges looked down upon.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The characters learn to work together as a family. What makes cooperation difficult, and how can your family practice it?
Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 · Philippians 2:3–4The story includes characters who say they are sorry and ask for forgiveness. What makes an apology genuine?
Matthew 5:23–24 · Colossians 3:13Talking back is not always treated as wrong in the story. How can you disagree honestly while still showing respect?
Ephesians 6:1–3 · Proverbs 15:1The film looks down upon revenge and grudges. Why does Scripture tell us not to repay evil for evil?
Romans 12:17–21The Final Word
This is a cheerful, lightweight family comedy with musical fun and a positive message about love, teamwork, and forgiveness. Its predictable story and some content concerns keep it from being exceptional, but families looking for an all-ages adventure can take the trip.
WORTH THE TRIP
