Quite possibly my favourite show on TV right now is Chuck. But now the completely likable star of the show, Zachary Levi has challenged the gods of Hollywood in a showdown that could likely end any hope of a career. That’s right! He is replacing a lead in a sequel created purely to try and grab some more cash. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.
Levi will play the cousin of Jason Lee’s character and gets tangled up with the tiny animated threesome. Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and Jesse McCartney again will provide the chipmunks’ voices.
Also new to the franchise will be the Chipmunks’ rivals, the Chipettes — Brittany, Jeanette and Eleanor — who were introduced in the 1980s animated TV series.
Honestly, I had hoped to see something more from Zachary Levi. His character is so likable on Chuck, and off screen he holds himself well in interviews and you can only want the best from him. It was only a matter of time before he branched out to try something new.
So imagine how surprised I was to find his choice to spread his wings into feature films will be in a movie that Jason Lee wouldn’t even try twice. I like Jason Lee, but honestly I haven’t seen him in anything I actually liked for a LONG time. But the sequel to the kid smash hit Alvin and the Chipmunks (which isn’t entirely terrible unless you are over the age of 12) doesn’t seem like a step in the right direction.
Worse, is that they are falling back on the gimmick where they don’t replace the actor (Levi won’t be playing Dave Seville) but instead they invent a new character that is vaguely related to the original lead and start a new adventure where he gets to learn to love the singing chipmunks. At verly least I would have expected them to just replace Lee. Now we won’t get the iconic “ALVIN!!!” shout. At least we will have the Chipettes to squirm awkwardly over as they attempt to make a forest rodent “pretty”.
Alvin and the Chipmunks movie had its moments but they were very few and doesn’t make it worth watching unless primary colours are your friends.
Poor Chuck.
