Plot

Three musical chipmunks are discovered by an aspiring songwriter who wants to use their amazing singing abilities to become famous.

In a tree farm, three musically inclined chipmunks named Alvin, Simon and Theodore find their tree cut down and sent to Los Angeles. Once there, they meet the frustrated songwriter David Seville, and despite a poor house wrecking first impression, they impress him with their singing talent. Seeing the opportunity for success, everyone makes a pact for them to sing his songs. While that ambition proves a frustrating struggle with the difficult trio, the dream does come true after all. However, that success presents its own trials as their unscrupulous record executive, Ian Hawke, plans to break up this family to exploit the Chipmunks. Can Dave and the Chipmunks discover what they really value amid the superficial glamour around them?—Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)

Three young male chipmunks move in with a middle-aged male who has career troubles. He discovers that all three chipmunks can dance and sing. They become famous. When it seems like a cool and great lifestyle, they all reconsider what they all want in life.—RECB3

The fir tree where talking chipmunk brothers Alvin, Simon, and Theodore live is felled and transported to Los Angeles after being bought as a Christmas tree by record label JETT Records. Meanwhile, their CEO, Ian Hawke, who was Dave Seville's roommate in college, rejects his most recent demo and advises struggling songwriter Dave Seville to stop writing songs. The Chipmunks follow Dave home after jumping into a muffin basket that Dave took from one of Ian's subordinates.

When Dave discovers the Chipmunks in his house, he is initially shocked and makes them leave. After hearing them perform "Only You (And You Alone)" and "Funkytown," Dave strikes a bargain with the Chipmunks, offering them food and shelter in return for singing his songs. Dave composes a song for them that evening. The Chipmunks practice Dave's song "Christmas Do not Be Late" the following day while Dave plays the piano. However, due to stage fright, the Chipmunks are unable to sing when Dave tries to introduce them to Ian. The day gets worse when Dave loses his advertising job because the Chipmunks accidentally destroyed his presentation boards. Dave finds it difficult to conceal the Chipmunks while having dinner with Claire, his ex-girlfriend, after Alvin tries to make it romantic, which makes Claire uneasy and eventually leads to her leaving. Ian signs a record deal after the Chipmunks perform Dave's song in his opulent mansion as a form of restitution.

The Chipmunks' rapid rise to fame was further cemented following a triumphant performance of "Witch Doctor." Ian persuades the Chipmunks that Dave minimizes their success, despite Dave's insistence that they are too young to handle fame out of concern for their well-being. Following a miscommunication and the reading of an old letter Dave wrote, the Chipmunks choose to live with Ian, whose sole goal is to benefit from their success. Ian constantly overworks them, taking advantage of their gullibility as they embark on a cross-country tour across the country. Following the news announcement of Ian's intention to take the Chipmunks on a twelve-month international tour, Dave makes the decision to sneak into their performance at the Orpheum Theatre in order to get them.

A veterinarian tells Ian that the Chipmunks' voices have been worn out by exhaustion and advises them to take a long break before their performance. Ian tells the Chipmunks to lip sync because he is unwilling to call off the show and give refunds. Claire helps Dave enter the theater covertly. The Chipmunks decide to ruin the show by creating mayhem onstage after realizing Ian has deceived them and hearing Dave calling. Security stops Dave as Ian, in preparation for the Chipmunks' upcoming world tour, locks them in a cage. Dave follows Ian as he flees in his limousine. The Chipmunks unexpectedly show up in Dave's car even though he lost Ian. Ian learns of the Chipmunks' escape as Dave and the group get back together, costing him both his career and his fortune.