MovieChat Forums > Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009) Discussion > Did the movie really NEED a different ac...

Did the movie really NEED a different actor for each chipmunk's voice?

posted 14 years ago by jenni_doll_1
8 replies | jump to latest

If all they were doing was taking a normal voice and speeding it up, wouldn't it have been a money saver to just have one actor to do all the male chipmunks and one actress to do all the female chipmunks? They all sounded pretty close to the same anyway, at least to me they did. Surely one person could have done slight variations between the voice of one and another so that when the voices were sped up they wouldn't have to be perfectly identical.

[–] branenj001 14 years ago

I don't understand why the bothered with well known actors doing the voices, as if we'd be able to tell that one of them was Jessie McCartney and one was Justin Long or Christina Applegate if they hadn't have told us. I have to wonder how much they had to pay them to do the voice, it seems silly LOL

[–] Severedevil 14 years ago

They used to do this (Ross played Alvin, Simon, and Dave, while Janice played Theodore + Chipettes, IIRC) but I think using one voice actor for each helps. Human ears are very good at recognizing when multiple characters are sharing a voice, which forces voice actors to limit the range of each character's voice to keep them properly separated. (Or so I perceive it, anyway.)

One actor per character allows each a more natural voice.

[–] SeisCinemaSeis 14 years ago

I don't get it neither. Why on earth they needed "different" actors?
Worse than that, why they had to choose relatively well known actors IF their voice would be changed to an unrecognizable degree??
I mean does anyone recognizes Justin Long as the voice of Alvin? Really?
Adults doesn't care about the movie, kids doesn't care about the voice casting, so what's the point on hiring these actors to do the voiceover?
Makes no sense at all.

[–] BouncyX 14 years ago

its all about marketing. granted they didnt use any SUPER famous people in either movie but most still have a level of recognizability.

they shoulda just used Ross and Janice to do the voices. i mean its their creations, they were even producers on the movies and had a good amount of control so why not save time and money and just use the two actors who've been doing this for 30yrs. my guess is they made a deal with the studio to forgo doing the voices in return for creative control.

[–] shadyvsesham 13 years ago

I dont mind if they wana use different actors for each character, BUT do they really need WELL known actors that will require a decent paycheck.

Justin Long, Matthew Gray, and Jesse Mc were the chipmunks for the boys.

Anna Faris, Amy Poehler, and Christina Applegate for the girls.

Now if you didnt see the IMDB acting list, or at the end of the movie, IF I said,"Guess which person plays which chipmunk" Youd have no clue!

Guessing I thought Faris woulda played Brittany, Amy I woulda thought played Jeanette, and Christina I woulda figured Eleanor. I woulda failed miserably as Christina played Brittany, Amy played Eleanor, and Anna played Jeanette.

Honestly, did Long, Amy, or Anna need this?

I dont mind them using Christina, as she atleast has a name and probably didnt cost the studio a HUGE chunk of cash as well as Matthew and Jesse Mc Im sure didnt require a huge sum either.

But Anna, Justin, and Amy Im sure did request a decent amount, and for what? To use their voices and we cant even reconize them? It is almost a waste of their talents. I wish we could see how much Justin, Anna, and Amy were paid!

[–] Howlin Wolf 13 years ago

I thought the same. I don't see any reason to bother with big stars outside of "Dave" (who isn't used much here, anyway... )

This is where the magic happens... and by "magic", I mean nothing.

[–] ItsEddieHaskellBeyotch 13 years ago

Its not necessaary nor is it necessary to have mid-level popular comedic actors to voice any animated character in a live action film. The recognition of the Chipmunks and Chipettes as characters alone is pretty much what keeps this franchise going. I'd rather Ross and his wife Janice do the voices.

"A commitment to cinema means to lead a technically deviant lifestyle."

[–] Kotter7579 8 years ago

*standing ovation*******
!!!

So: a realistic, down to earth show..which is completely off the wall swarming with magic robots?!