Honestly, if you grew up in the late 2000s, you couldn't escape the high-pitched "ALVIN!" echoing through every movie theater and mall. While the first movie was a massive hit, it was the 2009 follow-up that really leaned into the chaos by introducing the female counterparts we all know as the Chipettes. Looking back at the Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel full movie cast, it’s kinda wild to see how many A-list stars were actually hiding behind those digital whiskers.
You probably remember the basics, but there’s a lot about this cast that most people forget. Like the fact that Jason Lee, the guy who basically was the face of the franchise, is barely in this one. Or that a future superhero took over the heavy lifting for the human lead.
The Voice Talents: Who Was Actually Squeaking?
When you’re watching the Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel full movie cast perform, it’s easy to think it’s just some random voice actors. It wasn't. The studio went all out with huge names, even though their voices were pitched up so high you could barely tell who was who.
The Original Trio
Justin Long returned as the voice of Alvin. He’s always been pretty open about how weird the recording process was—basically talking really slowly so they could speed it up later. Matthew Gray Gubler, who everyone knows from Criminal Minds, came back as the brainy Simon. Then you’ve got Jesse McCartney as Theodore. At the time, Jesse was a massive pop star, so having him as the "cute" one was a pretty smart marketing move.
The Chipettes: The Big Addition
This is where the sequel really leveled up. They didn't just get anyone; they got three of the funniest women in Hollywood.
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- Christina Applegate voiced Brittany, the sassy leader.
- Anna Faris took on Jeanette, the shy, glasses-wearing one.
- Amy Poehler voiced Eleanor.
Think about that for a second. You have the stars of Parks and Rec, Scary Movie, and Dead to Me all in one recording booth (well, probably separate ones, let's be real). It's a comedy powerhouse cast for a movie where they mostly sing Beyoncé covers.
Why David Seville Almost Disappeared
If you’ve watched the movie recently, you’ve probably noticed that Dave Seville, played by Jason Lee, spends almost the entire film in a hospital bed in Paris. There’s a reason for that. Originally, the script was supposed to feature Dave much more heavily. However, due to scheduling conflicts—specifically Lee’s work on My Name Is Earl—they had to pivot.
They basically "injured" his character in the first ten minutes to explain why he wasn't around to watch the boys. This led to the introduction of a new human lead to carry the plot.
The Human Cast: New Faces and Returning Villains
With Dave out of the picture, the Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel full movie cast needed a new protagonist. Enter Zachary Levi. This was long before he was Shazam! or the voice of Flynn Rider in Tangled. He played Toby Seville, Dave’s awkward, video-game-obsessed cousin who is suddenly tasked with making sure the Chipmunks go to school.
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Levi’s energy was totally different from Jason Lee’s. He played Toby as a guy who was clearly overwhelmed, which honestly felt pretty relatable.
Then, of course, we have David Cross returning as Ian Hawke. David Cross has been very... let's say vocal over the years about his experience with these movies. He’s famously joked that he only did them for the paycheck (and to buy a vacation home). Despite that, his performance as the disgraced, "living in a basement" version of Ian is actually one of the funniest parts of the film. He really leans into the pathetic nature of the character.
Supporting Players You Might Have Missed
- Wendie Malick: She plays Dr. Rubin, the school principal. You’ve seen her in everything from Just Shoot Me! to BoJack Horseman.
- Kathryn Joosten: The legendary Desperate Housewives actress played Aunt Jackie.
- Kevin G. Schmidt: He played Ryan, the high school jock who picks on the boys.
- Bridgit Mendler: Before her Good Luck Charlie days, she had a small role here as Becca.
The Music and Singing Voices
Here is a bit of trivia that messes with people’s heads: the actors who do the speaking voices usually don't do the singing. For the Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel full movie cast, the singing was handled by a different group of pros.
Ross Bagdasarian Jr., the son of the original creator, actually provided the singing voice for Alvin. Janice Karman, his wife and the creator of the Chipettes, voiced the singing parts for Theodore and all three Chipettes. It's a family business at its core. They’ve been the guardians of that "chipmunk sound" for decades, ensuring that even as the movies went live-action, the soul of the music stayed the same.
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Why the Squeakquel Still Gets Searched Today
It’s easy to dismiss these movies as just "kid stuff," but they were box office monsters. This movie alone made over $440 million. People still look up the cast because it was such a specific moment in pop culture. It was that weird era where every 80s cartoon was getting a CGI facelift, and somehow, the Chipmunks did it better than most.
The chemistry between the voice actors—even if they weren't in the same room—actually comes through. You can hear Amy Poehler's timing or Anna Faris's specific ditzy-but-sweet tone in the characters. It wasn't just phoned-in work.
What to Watch Next
If you're revisiting the franchise, it's worth checking out how the cast evolved in the next two films, Chipwrecked and The Road Chip. While the human leads kept changing (bring back Jason Lee!), the core voice cast stayed surprisingly consistent.
To see more of the Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel full movie cast in their "human" roles, you should definitely check out:
- Zachary Levi in Chuck or Shazam! for that same comedic energy.
- David Cross in Arrested Development to see him at his absolute peak.
- The Chipettes' voice actors in their respective sitcoms—Parks and Recreation (Poehler) and Mom (Faris) are the gold standards.
Watching these performers in their live-action roles makes you realize just how much talent was packed into a movie about singing rodents. It’s a fun rabbit hole to go down, especially when you realize how many "before they were famous" cameos are tucked away in the background of the school scenes.