Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman

Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman is a 2000 American animated horror musical comedy-themed direct-to-video film produced by Bagdasarian Productions and Universal Cartoon Studios and based on characters from Alvin and the Chipmunks. It is the second Alvin and the Chipmunks direct-to-video film, and the second of three Universal Cartoon Studios productions to be animated overseas by Tama Productions in Tokyo, Japan.

Alvin and the Chipmunks
Meet the Wolfman
VHS cover
Directed byKathi Castillo
Produced byKathi Castillo
Screenplay byJohn Loy
Based on
StarringRoss Bagdasarian Jr.
Janice Karman
Tress MacNeille
Elizabeth Daily
Maurice LaMarche
Rob Paulsen
Frank Welker
April Winchell
Music byMark Watters
Edited byJay Bisxen
Production
company
Distributed byUniversal Studios Home Video
Release date
  • August 29, 2000 (2000-08-29)
Running time
76 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Universal Studios Home Video released it on VHS with Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein, Monster Mash, and four episodes of Archie's Weird Mysteries (combined into one feature, Archie and the Riverdale Vampires) as part of its "Haunted House of Fun" promotion on August 29, 2000. Then on September 7, 2004, all four animated films are released together on a "Monster Bash Fun Pack" DVD set. A "Scare-riffic Double Feature" two-disc DVD set featuring Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein and this film was released on September 4, 2007, and re-released with a different cover on March 11, 2008.

Plot

The movie begins with Alvin having nightmares of meeting the Wolfman, leading to him wake up screaming in fear. Simon and Dave conclude that Alvin's been watching too many horror films at night. Alvin says that it is because their new neighbor, Lawrence Talbot, creeps him out and speculates that he is hiding something. Theodore is having trouble with Nathan, a bully, and will not go to the principal, who plans to retire due to Alvin's daily mishaps, for help. However, Alvin sticks up for him.

Their school is rehearsing the play for the famous horror story Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. When yet another accident caused by Alvin when mixing unknown chemicals results in a huge explosion and mess of the school auditorium, along with Dave getting a call from Miss Miller about the Chipettes being scared silly after being spooked by something while walking home with the Chipmunks one night, Principal Milliken and Dave decide that Alvin be pulled out of his role as Mr. Hyde and is given the role of the butler instead with Dave confiscating all of Alvin's monster paraphernalia (even though Alvin purchases a monster book soon after). To boost his self-esteem, they decide to have Theodore replace the role. Millikin expects Theodore to start standing up for himself when Dave sees Nathan causing him trouble.

Meanwhile, Alvin and Simon are out in search of proof that Mr. Talbot is a werewolf (Munks on a Mission). Meanwhile, no one believes that Theodore is scary enough to play the role of Mr. Hyde. However, that all changes after he gets bit by a large dog (before we later find out it was actually a werewolf) on his way home after giving a necklace as a gift to Eleanor, whom he is harboring a secret crush on. The next day at the rehearsal, Theodore does an extremely terrifying impression of Mr. Hyde. Despite this triumph, Theodore transforms into a puppy-like werewolf by night, and his personality continues to drastically change by the day, becoming more vicious and mean. With their brother now a werewolf, Alvin and Simon search for a way to help Theodore and save the school play without Dave finding out the truth (Monster Out in You).

Despite their best efforts, they find no solution. They eventually decide to take up some advice from known psychic Madame Raya. She says that Theodore is already close to the animal state and will turn into a werewolf soon enough. Simon and Alvin ask her if there is any way to cure him. She suggests knocking him out with a silver cane while he is still a "puppy" before the next full moon when the transformation will be complete. Heeding this advice, Alvin breaks into Mr. Talbot's home and steals his silver cane, which is then broken in two by Theodore after Alvin knocks him with it. Of course, it didn't cure him. However, as he runs away with it, he knocks into Dave. That night, Dave goes to see Mr. Talbot to apologize and explain everything to him. During the conversation where Mr. Talbot mentioned how his descendant was killed by people with silver bullets, the full moon rises and he transforms into a werewolf. Terrified, Dave runs to the school to warn the boys. However, he runs into a pole, knocking him unconscious. Having followed Dave to the school, Mr. Talbot makes his way inside and briefly chases after Alvin (who realizes he was right to suspect Mr. Talbot).

During the play, Theodore changes into a werewolf while on set and starts to attack Eleanor (who finds out about Theodore). However, after cornering her, the necklace Theodore gave her earlier shines by the moon, causing Theodore to remember his feelings towards her and to flee. Eleanor follows him, determined to help him, only to almost be attacked by Mr. Talbot, who was the original werewolf that bit Theodore. Theodore quickly defends her and attacks Mr. Talbot, biting him while their werewolf forms fight. As a result of the bite, Theodore turns back into a chipmunk and Talbot returns to normal. Talbot then runs off the stage. Confused by what happened, Simon explains to everyone how the bite cured them by causing the effect to reverse on them both. With the happy news delivered, Alvin quickly runs up to the stage to join in the applause by the crowd, who believes the entire incident was just an act, though is quickly shoved back behind the curtains by Miss Miller.

At the wrap party, they find out Mr. Talbot is going to be their new principal as Millikin is taking a more challenging job driving a truck filled with nitroglycerin. Having woke up, Dave shows up as he gives his speech about his new position and nearly attacks him as he starts to claim that Talbot is a werewolf. The boys quickly explain that Theodore took care of everything (leaving out most of the film's events), leaving Dave impressed and proud of him. As Dave hugs Theodore, Mr. Talbot (who did in fact want to be free from his werewolf curse) whispers, “Thank you.” The Chipmunks and Chipettes end the wrap party by doing their famous performances, and soon everyone else follow the rhythm as the movie ends (and continues in the end credits) with Everything's Gonna Be Alright.

Cast

Ginny McSwain served as casting and voice director.

Musical numbers

Soundtrack available on MCA Records.

  1. "Munks on a Mission" - Alvin and Simon
  2. "Monster Out in You" - The Chipmunks
  3. "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" - The Chipmunks and the Chipettes

Release

The film was initially released on VHS by Universal Studios Home Video on August 29, 2000 alongside Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein, Monster Mash and four episodes of Archie's Weird Mysteries (combined into one feature, "Archie and the Riverdale Vampires") as part of its "Haunted House of Fun" promotion. On September 7, 2004, all four animated films were released together on a "Monster Bash Fun Pack" DVD set.

A "Scare-riffic Double Feature" two-disc DVD set alongside Meet Frankenstein was released on September 4, 2007, and re-released with a different cover on March 11, 2008.

References
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