Love them or loathe them, there’s no denying that Alvin, Simon and Theodore, known as The Chipmunks, have their own legion of fans - ones who will no doubt be eager to soak up yet another movie installment, as soon as it’s released.

That said, the Chipmunks' popularity might be waning. The third instalment in their movie franchise, 2011’s Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, made $133.1 million at the domestic box office; quite the drop from the previous two movies which grossed over $200 million each. No doubt 20th Century Fox will be hoping to better that performance with the 4th (yes, really), Chipmunk movie; Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Road Chip. The second trailer can be viewed, above.

The Road Chip will face-off with Star Wars: The Force Awakens during its December opening weekend, a move which can be seen as either completely crazy or smart logic. Jason Lee once again returns as the chipmunk’s guardian in the film, Dave, while the voices actors of the chipmunks also reprise their roles; Justin Long as Alvin, Matthew Gray Gubler as Simon, and Jesse McCartney as Theodore. The movie is directed by Walt Becker (Wild Hogs, Old Dogs) from a screenplay by Randi Mayem Singer (Mrs Doubtfire, Toothfairy).

Unsurprisingly, The Road Chip sees the Chipmunks taking to the road in an effort to stop Dave from proposing to his girlfriend. They must make it to Miami and convince Dave he’s making a mistake - otherwise they’ll be in line to gain a new, horrible step-brother, Miles (Josh Green). All this, and they still find time to give us their own, unique take on ‘Uptown Funk’.

All the usual gags are in place in the latest Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip trailer - the kind that are guaranteed to make small kids laugh out loud; plenty of visual jokes, fart jokes and small animals running amok, generally causing havoc. Watch out too, for a cameo from Orange is the New Black's Uzo Aduba as a bellowing airport security guard.

Alvin and the Chipmunks movies are never high-brow, nor do they pretend to be. The franchise might no longer appeal to some, who have grown weary of the hellish caterwauling they pass off as singing, but for those aged ten and under, they’re still as hysterical as ever. If Star Wars is sold out this December, head on over to the next screen and catch Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Road Chip if your ears can stand it.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip will be released in U.S. theaters on December 18th, 2015.

Source: 20th Century Fox