1. Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (Fox, @3,700 Theaters, 88 Minutes, Rated PG): When I was a kid, I used to rush out to the living room whenever I heard the theme song to The Alvin Show. Some of the first pieces of recorded music I ever bought with my allowance was The Chipmunks Sing the Beatles. Needless to say, I was a fan.
I say this to give you some perspective when I tell you that I consider this latest Chipmunk revival an abomination.
Yes, yes, I know. This could be cranky old Bill upset because a bastion of his childhood is changed and updated for a new generation. But still, I would have liked to have seen a little more effort put into those changes and updates.
2. Up in the Air (Paramount, @1,800 Theaters, 109 Minutes, Rated R): One of the best reviewed movies, and one that has been getting a lot of Oscar buzz, finally hits wide release in time for the Christmas holiday.
A man who is hired out to be a corporate axe man (he fires your employees for you) has his life turned upside down when his vagabond lifestyle comes to a halt after a shake up at his employer. Since he is forced to put down roots, he begins to make emotional connections for the first time in his life.
It seems like a quirky dramedy, but everything I have heard tells me that this film is a winner. We’ll see how well it does around awards season.
