Just like the original, Alvin and the Chipmunks are adorable. The addition of the Chippettes made it twice as adorable. The storyline was engrossing enough for old and young alike, and the humor was not nearly as banal as I was afraid it might be. The only weak point was in the character of Toby--he wasn't as well-developed as I expected. There appeared to be some attempt at developing his character, but it fell flat. Still, my children were pleased as punch with the entire film. They can't wait for it to come out on DVD so they can get their own copy to watch over and over.
The action was spot on in this adventure story. Well-cast and well-developed. For those familiar with Holmes and Doyle, the movie and characters are well-portrayed. For those less familiar, the plot has a few slow down points that can get annoying. The action revs the viewer up; then, the plot and character development pulls the viewer back down. This adrenaline roller coaster can get a bit tiring; but, overall, the movie is quite enjoyable for the story, the character interaction, the casting and the action.
Overall I was quite pleased with this film. The two main characters were very believable. The two supporting characters were awful. I would have suggested using a psychologist rather than a psychic and maybe delving a bit deeper into the "relationship" between Katie and the "unseen visitor". I was happily surprised by the special effects considering the movie's budget. I would like to have seen this film expanded a bit more, but overall, I was pleased. I haven't slept well since I saw it.