THEY'RE not big, and this film's certainly not clever, but there is something oddly entertaining about these super furry animals.

In the delightfully-named Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel (U), high-pitched pop sensations Alvin, Simon and Theodore have to put aside music superstardom to return to school.

But they soon get a chance to prove their musical credentials again, when a 'battle of the bands' competition comes along.

The $25,000 prize on offer would help the school to revitalise its music programme, but the Chipmunks unexpectedly meet their match in three feisty female chipmunks known as The Chipettes".

The producers have found plenty of recent chart fare which the new rival group deliver, so we get Chipmunk versions of songs by the likes of Beyonce and Katy Perry.

And while the plot may be one-dimensional, youngsters won't mind, given that yet another foot-stomping musical number is usually just around the corner.