Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Alvin's Christmas Carol(1993), Featuring the Voice of Ross Bagdasarian, Jr.: Review by William Mortensen Vaughan

TitleAlvin's Christmas Carol

AdaptationFeaturing the voice of Ross Bagdasarian, Jr. as "the Scrooge," Alvin "the Chipmunk" Seville

Dates and Places of Earliest Release:  
WED, 29 SEP 1993 U.S.A.
 
My Rating****

Format Reviewed
animated film, on VHS and the 25th Anniversary Special Collector's Edition DVD, titled A Chipmunk Christmas
 
Runtime:  66 minutes
 
Availability:  
As of February 16, 2021, copies of this film, on VHS, are available, online, for approximately $15 U.S. Dollars. The 25th Anniversary Special Collector's Edition DVD, titled A Chipmunk Christmas, is available for approximately $75 U.S. Dollars.

Is this adaptation reverent? 
No, this adaptation is not particularly reverent.  There doesn't seem to be any emphasis on Christ or God, but plenty of emphasis on commercialism, and family and friends.

Does this adaptation mention "God" or "Christ"?  
No, this adaptation does not mention God or Christ, except in the word "Christmas."
 
Does this adaptation include the phrase "God bless us...?"  No.

What does my wife think of
this adaptation?
My wife cried when Mr. Ferrell explained to Ebenezer how much his newspaper meant to him.

Where and when does this adaptation take place?
Los Angeles, California, circa 1990.
 
What language and/or dialects are used?  
A "Chipmunk" dialect of English.

How closely does this adaptation follow the original novel, by Charles Dickens?
This adaptation does not follow the original novel very well.  The dynamics between "the Scrooge" and a "Cratchit," "Belle," "Fezziwig," "Fred," and "Marley" are all missing.  Alvin the Chipmunk is "the Scrooge," but he's essentially a schoolboy with a newspaper route.  He selfishly writes a long list of items he expects his human grandparents to give him for Christmas, and is disappointed when his human "father" makes him deliver his newspapers, and he fails to make it to the mailbox in time to mail his Christmas wish list to his grandparents so they'll be able to get him what he wants in time for Christmas.

He has procrastinated writing an essay for school about the true meaning of Christmas, so, on Christmas Eve, he starts writing, but passes out before completing the task.  

While Alvin is asleep, Dave, his human father, appears to him in a dream, as the Spirit of Christmas Past.  Then his chipmunk brothers appear to him as the other Spirits of Christmas Present and Yet to Come.  No one appears to him in lieu of Jacob Marley.

Mr. Carroll, an elderly man on Alvin's paper route, has a cat named Ebenezer.

Alvin fails to ensure that Mr. Ferrell has his newspaper on Christmas morning.  But, after his dreams, he has a change of heart, and starts putting everyone else first, and delivers a newspaper to Mr. Carroll.
 
Is this adaptation a prequel or a sequel?  No.

Is this adaptation supernatural? 
No, this adaptation is not supernatural; the spirits are merely elements of Alvin's dreams.  It is somewhat odd, however, that these chipmunks, Alvin, Theodore, and Simon, talk and sing.
 
Is this adaptation "framed"?
  No. 

Is this adaptation a musical?  No.
 
What songs and/or dances are included?  
(Music by Thomas Chase and Steve Rucker; music editing by Nick Carr and Paul Ray... The Chipmunks sing their versions of "The Christmas Song" and "Christmas Time Is Here," which are apparently written especially for them to sing.

How attractive and effective is the visual art?  
The set, wardrobe, and art are adequate.

How creative and intense are the transitions, especially when "the Scrooge" is taken from one time and/or place to another?
The transitions are adequate.
 
What aerial and/or nap-of-the-earth footage is included?  N/A
 
What use is made of background extras?  
Such inadequate use is made of animated background extras, that I thought the Chipmunks lived in "a small town" until I did enough research to discover that their home is in Los Angeles.

What is the most remarkable thing about this adaptation? 
The most remarkable thing about this adaptation is, perhaps, that Alvin is the only "Scrooge" whom I've seen, who is a child with no employees, previous engagements to be married, or wealth.  He's merely a selfish brat.
 
What bonus material is included on the DVD? 
The DVD includes this adaptation of A Christmas Carol, titled "Merry Christmas Mr. Carroll," and two other "episodes," titled "A Chipmunk Christmas" and "Dave's Wonderful Life."

Episode selection is available.

"Original Artwork From A Chipmunk Christmas" is included, in the form of a slideshow of images.
 
A separate music CD [Compact Disc] is also included, with the following eleven songs:

  1. "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"
  2. "Chipmunk Jingle Bells"
  3. "The Chipmunk Song"
  4. "The Spirit of Christmas"
  5. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
  6. "Crashcup's Christmas"
  7. "Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)"
  8. "Silent Night"
  9. "Sleigh Ride"
  10. "Deck the Halls"
  11. "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"
Review by William Mortensen Vaughan


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