also said that the villains resembled those from a Ralph Bakshi film and did not fit with the world of the Chipmunks. Roger Ebert commented that the animation is slightly better than the TV series, but criticized the film's "dumb and predictable" story, while Gene Siskel criticized the plot for being right out of a Saturday morning cartoon, especially through the film's introduction of the Chipettes. Both Ebert and Siskel also criticized the plot and the Chipmunks' voices, with Ebert comparing them to "fingernails on the blackboard". Siskel and Ebert ultimately gave the film two thumbs down. On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 75% based on 8 reviews, with an average rating of 6.6/10. Home media The film was released on VHS by Lorimar Home Video in late 1987, Warner Home Video in 1992, and Universal Studios Home Video on March 17, 1998. On May 23, 2006, the film was released on DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment digitally remastered from the original 35mm film and presented with 5.1 surround sound. A special edition DVD re-release of the film with a bonus CD (which is the same soundtrack disc) was released on April 1, 2008, which matches that of the live-action/computer-animated Alvin and the Chipmunks and another DVD volume of Alvin and the Chipmunks Go to the Movies. On March 25, 2014, the film was released on Blu-ray for the first time. References External links Alvin and the Chipmunks films 1987 films 1987 animated films 1987 soundtrack albums 1980s adventure films 1980s American animated films 1980s musical comedy films 1980s English-language films Alvin and the Chipmunks albums American adventure comedy films American children's animated adventure films American children's animated comedy films American children's animated musical films American musical comedy films Animated coming-of-age films Children's music albums Films about child abduction Films about princes Films about slavery Films scored by Randy Edelman Films directed by Janice Karman Films featuring underwater diving Films set in Antarctica Films set in Athens Films set in Bermuda Films set in Egypt Films set in jungles Films set in Los Angeles Films set in Mexico City Films set on balloons Jukebox musical films Animated films based on animated series The Samuel Goldwyn Company films 1980s children's animated films Comedy film soundtracks 1987 comedy films Films with screenplays by Ross Bagdasarian Jr. Films produced by Ross Bagdasarian Jr. Films with screenplays