Featured TV on DVD Review: Alvin and the Chipettes in Cinderella, Cinderella

March 26, 2010

Alvin and the Chipettes in Cinderella, Cinderella - Buy from Amazon

In a bout of synergy, the latest single-disc DVD release for the 1980s TV series, Alvin and the Chipmunks, comes out the same week as the Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel hits the home market. Just as the movie introduces the Chipettes, Alvin and the Chipettes in Cinderella, Cinderella has three episodes, two of which emphasize the feminine half of the rodent show.

There are just three episodes on this DVD starting with...

  • Cinderella, Cinderella
    Miss Miller is taking Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor shopping for new dresses for the big dance. But first, they have to do their chores. Brittany refuses, naturally, so she can't go shopping. She might not go to the dance either. Instead of doing her chores, she imagines she's Cinderella. She has more in common with the wicked stepmother than Cinderella. To top it off, she sings "Respect" during her montage of chores. And in the end, after she imagines she's Cinderella, Miss Miller does half her chores and lets her go to the dance. What kind of message are they trying to give here?
  • Alvie's Angels
    It's another boring day at the mall when Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor see a jewelry robbery and are knocked over by the thief. The blow to the head makes Brittany imagine the trio are Alvie's Angels. Jeanette, Eleanor, and Brittany all have to go undercover to capture the famous playboy jewel thief, with the help of Simon and Theodore.
  • The Brunch Club
    The statue of Thomas Edison that is in the courtyard of the school breaks and the Chipmunks and Chipettes are all seen at the scene of the crime. Sent to detention until one of them confesses, they first try to use torture to get a confession (including the use of a smelly gym bag). One by one they give their stories until they come to the truth. I stopped watching this episode about a third of the way in, because as soon as they started telling their stories, I remembered how it ended. It has been 20 years since I've seen this episode and I still remembered the end. That should be a big clue that it's the best of the bunch. At the very least, it's the most memorable.
There are no extras on this DVD, nor are their subtitles or proper chapter placements. There is a play all button, but that's it.

The Verdict

I've noticed that a number of kids' shows have been increasing the number of episodes found on each DVD so that the price per minute is more inline with full season sets. That's not the case here. There are just three episodes on Alvin and the Chipettes in Cinderella, Cinderella, and of those only the last one is a really good episode. There are also no extras. Given that, I think this DVD is only worth a rental while you wait for full season sets.


- Submitted by:

Filed under: Video Review