Josh Green plays mischievous brother in Chipmunks 4

MANILA, Philippines – Alvin, Theodore and Simon embark on a journey across the US and for the first time, they’re on a mission to keep their family together in the fourth instalment of the family adventure Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip.

In their latest adventure, through a series of misunderstandings, the Chipmunks come to believe that Dave is going to propose to his new girlfriend in Miami… and dump them. They have three days to get to him and stop the proposal, saving themselves not only from losing Dave but possibly from gaining a terrible stepbrother, Miles, played by Josh Green.

The idea of Dave tying the knot doesn’t thrill the boys; in fact, they fear it will uproot their lives — and maybe uproot them from Dave’s home. Further complicating matters is Sam’s (Dave’s special friend played by Kimberly Willams-Paisley) teenage son, Miles (Green), who has an instant dislike of the Chipmunks.

“Miles is definitely introduced as the classic teenage ‘bad boy,’” says Green.  “I also like comparing him to Alvin. Both cause trouble and are loud and harsh. “Everyone has a little Alvin in them,” he continues.  “You know, that voice inside that says, let’s go out there and cause a ruckus.”

In the midst of their hostilities, if not all-out war, the Chipmunks and Miles learn they do have one common goal: Stop Dave’s wedding to Sam.  The Munks are afraid that their family will change forever if Dave gets married and, worse, Miles becomes their stepbrother. Miles, says Green “is also not okay with Dave and Sam’s plan of, ‘Let’s get this family together, and we’ll all be happy now.’”

It’s a journey filled with adventure, laughs, music and lots of local color. But director Walt Becker says that it’s also about Alvin, Simon, Theodore and Miles finding their way into a kind of blended family. He further points to the film’s new blended family elements as an entryway to the new chapter in the Chipmunks’ lives. It’s no longer just the three boys and Dave Seville. Two new characters — a love interest for Dave, and her teenage son — enter the scene, and turn the Munks life and family topsy-turvy.

“I think the idea of a blended family is one that many people can relate to,” says Becker. “The Chipmunks are always trying to do the right thing, but end up doing it in the wrong way. You can mine a lot of comedy from those family experiences.”

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip opens Jan. 20 in cinemas nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.