ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS MEET FRANKENSTEIN Voices by Ross Bagdasarian

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS MEET FRANKENSTEIN Voices by Ross Bagdasarian (1999, Universal, 78 mins., G) There must be a masochistic streak in our culture for the music of Alvin, Simon, and Theodore to have remained popular for 40 years. So deliriously shrill is the singing of these rodents that the effect can be physically punishing. Their new outing overcomes that handicap with above-average animation and sharp gags aimed at kids and adults; it's an amusing Halloween treat worth the tricks. Reel Goodies (0:38) The Chipmunks use the healing power of rap music to work through their feelings about monsters. The Last Detail The late Ross Bagdasarian (Sr.) created Alvin, Simon, and Theodore to personify a gag voice he invented for a 1950s novelty record. B --Michael Stewart