The singing pop star chipmunks Alvin, Simon and Theodore are back for another mix of live action and CGI-animation.

While the first film in 2007 saw how songwriter Dave Seville (Jason Lee) transforms the group into a pop sensation, this time the talented singers face the prospect of being sent back to the woods.

As usual, it's a funny and endearing film for all ages.

A scene of the film Photos: CFP

The film opens with Dave upset when the chipmunks make a mess in the house again. He tells them that he is going to start a new chapter in his life.

He is dating his new love interest, Samantha (Kimberly Williams), an adorable emergency room doctor.

Alvin (Justin Long), Simon (Matthew Gray Gubler) and Theodore (Jesse McCartney) think Dave is going to propose to Samantha and abandon them.

What's worse, the trio would gain a devious, bullying stepbrother, Miles (Josh Green) from the marriage. Miles tries to sell Theodore for $20 to a fat boy the first time he meets the trio.

To save themselves from being bullied by their stepbrother, the three get the idea to stop the engagement. Miles, who is also disdainful of the coupling, agrees to help them.

Setting aside their differences, they go on a trip that takes them across the country from Los Angeles to Miami.

On the trip, they manage to release an assortment of animals onto a plane, start a bar fight, and mess with a frantic, strong-headed air marshal (Tony Hale) who keeps looking for trouble but ends up humiliating himself.

The highlight of the film is its music. From the first scene until the last, the chipmunks throw a concert at every stop on their journey.

There is a long list of songs, from RedFoo's "Juicy Wiggle" to "Uptown Funk" by Bruno Mars.

As usual, they sing in pint-sized, high-pitched voices and interact with their audience.

The songs make up for the simple plot, which makes the 86-minute film seem longer than it is, despite its fizz and heart.

Director Walt Becker keeps the action moving apace, and the visual effects are amusing. There are a lot of close-ups when the trio are singing, dancing and twisting their chubby waists, which is adorable.

There is even a good fight scene when the air marshal threatens to slice Alvin like sushi. Alvin fights back with popcorn, beer and toothpicks. His swift movements make him a kung fu chipmunk.

The witty script not only manages to reveal the diverse characters of the trio but also knots them together.

Alvin is a nut, Simon a nerd, and Theodore a cute scene stealer who always gets his friends into trouble. They work perfectly together, bonding as an unbreakable trio.

As Theodore says at the beginning of the film, "you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us!"

In one scene they distract the sky marshal separately. In another scene where there is no way to escape, the three hide themselves on the bumpers of cars. The color of the cars match the clothes they wear.

However, the deficiency of the film is its predictable plot and lack of logic. After all, no one in the film bats an eye at a trio of talking and singing chipmunks.

The remedy is to just enjoy the solid laughs and not analyze anything too deeply.

This film can be a worthy piece of family entertainment.

A poster for the film

Everyone's a critic

GT: Who is your favorite chipmunk in the film?

Chen Xinyun, 18, student

"They are all cute. My favorite is Theodore. I think he is simple and naïve and sometimes brainless. In him lives an inner child who would always mess things up just like everyone of us. It was a cute little movie for all ages. I will definitely recommend it to my friends."

GT: What do you think of this new installment?

Ye Weilei, 18, student

"I have watched all the films of this franchise. I think there is a continuity with each revolving around the themes of love and home. I'm thrilled to hear Dave's trademark shriek of 'Alvin!' again. He has been yelling this since the first film. There is also innovation. Comparing with the first three, this film adds a mother and a brother, which enriches the family life of the chipmunks."

GT: Who is your favorite human actor?

Wang Sijia, 17, student

"I like the sky marshal. He is so funny and kept falling into the traps set by the chipmunks. There are some scenes that I couldn't help laughing out loud at. My favorite moment is when he hits a basket of popcorn and it goes in his face."