BEVERLY HILLS, California — You'd be hard-pressed to find three more fun, bubbly, beautiful blondes than Anna Faris, Amy Poehler and Christina Applegate. This week, millions will go and see their new movie, but not actually see them. Or really hear them — at least not their God-given voices.
The ladies, who play the Chipettes in "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel," say the film is a unique opportunity for an actor to infuse a character solely with personality, unencumbered by the usual limitations of voice and physicality. Such lofty thoughts, however, went right out the window when we recently sat down with Poehler and Applegate, two good friends who could barely contain their laughter long enough to give us their thoughts on the sexiest Chipmunk, their old-timey listening habits and why the Chipettes need to cover a dirty Prince song.
MTV: I saw the movie last night. One of the coolest things was when I came out, I saw a little kid singing the old-school Chipmunks theme.
Amy Poehler: You mean, "Christmas, Christmas time is near... "? That one?
MTV: No, the '80s theme song, from the cartoon show.
Poehler: Well, you see, I think we're a little older than you. Because we used to listen to the Chipmunks on a record player.
Christina Applegate: A wind-up!
Poehler: Yes, an old man on a player piano would perform it. We'd go down to the speakeasy and put hot potatoes in our pockets so we'd be warm as we walked home.
MTV: Is that how you first became aware of the Chipmunks, through the Christmas song?
Applegate: It was for me. I don't remember my childhood so much. [ Laughs. ]
Poehler: I remember your childhood. And it was because of that song.
MTV: Were you fans of the Chipettes?
Applegate: They came later, didn't they? They came when we were already getting in trouble. [ To Poehler ] I love how I keep bringing you up like you're 400 years old. I don't even know how old you are.
Poehler: I'm 38.
Applegate: The same age? We're the same age.
MTV: I can remember coming to the first "Alvin and The Chipmunks" junket and everyone was saying how bad they wanted the Chipettes for the sequel.
Applegate: Oh, really? Well, here we are.
Poehler: I'm hoping people will really respond. The characters are cute and sweet, and there's a whole sense of fun in them. It was great to work with Christina and Anna [Faris]. It was a blast, even though we never got to see each other. But it was great to work with them in theory.
Applegate: I did it because when they told me those other two were doing it I was like, "Well, I have to!" Also because it's iconic and it's for kids. I haven't done that. Look at my career — you can't really show too much of that to kids.
MTV: Was it flattering when they came to you and said, "We want your voices, but we're going to speed them up so much —
Applegate: — that you can't tell who's who?" [ Laughs. ] Yeah, but I think we each bring something that's unique to it. Without Justin [Long] doing Alvin and without the people who do these voices, it would be different.
MTV: The Chipettes each have their own designated Chipmunk that they love. But we wanted to ask you guys: Which is the cutest Chipmunk of all?
Applegate: Well, I'm always drawn to a bad boy, so ... Theodore.
Poehler: [ Laughs. ] Yeah, Theodore is my favorite. And Eleanor's favorite too. I like how he looks. As I get older, I like a gentleman who is kinda shy. But I know that he's a chipmunk; he's not a man.
Applegate: It's fake, Amy. It's just CGI.
MTV: If you could have the Chipettes cover one song in the next movie, what would it be?
Applegate: [ Singing ] I'm back! I'm back in the saddle again!
MTV: You'd have them cover Aerosmith's "Back in the Saddle"?
Applegate: Yeah, they need to rock out a little bit!
Poehler: How about "Darling Nikki" by Prince? No? Is that not appropriate?
Applegate: Ooh, that's a good one!
Poehler: How about Beatles songs?
Applegate: Sure, those are easy rights to get.
Check out everything we've got on "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel."
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