STUART LITTLE 2

The popular computer-animated mouse returns for another New York adventure

By Paul Zimmerman     July 19, 2002

Patrons in search of suitable family fare can hardly hope for anything better than STUART LITTLE 2. This slight but satisfying sequel to the popular 1999 surprise hit features the original cast (Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie and Jonathan Lipnicki as well as the voice talents of Michael J. Fox and Nathan Lane) and the same gentle tone. Deftly mixing live action and computer animation, animator-turned-director Rob Minkoff (THE LION KING) knows just how far to push a joke without overdoing the schmaltz factor. (Although one more round of the Littles greeting each other yapping, "Little Hi, Little Low! Little Hey, Little Ho!" and our teeth would have started hurting).

Assuming we all pretty well know that Stuart Little is a talking mouse (computer-animated and voiced by Fox) who lives with an unbelievably cheery family in the middle of a stylized New York, STUART LITTLE 2 opens with the lovable rodent rising early, attending school with his human stepbrother George (Lipnicki) and even playing soccer. New Yorkers being New Yorkers, no one seems surprised by this and the fact that he even has his own tiny soccer uniform and cleats.

Stuart's biggest problem, we quickly learn, is his overprotective "mother" Eleanor Little (Davis). Decked out in a wardrobe best described as thrift store chic, Davis seems to be having the best time here as she bugs out her eyes and makes a series of gag expressions that would make Lucille Ball proud.

After meandering for a good 10 minutes, the plot finally kicks in when Margalo, a damsel bird in distress, drops into Stuart's car. (Yeah, even though he's still in elementary school, the little rat has his own red sports sedan.)



Seems the winged one is being chased by a deadly falcon (called the Falcon!) and the first of the film's many chases is quickly underway. As voiced by Melanie Griffith, Margalo quickly seduces Stuart, and before you can say mousetrap, he's putty in her, uh, wings. The rub is she's actually a scam artist working with the Falcon, an ominous, steely-eyed raptor made all the more deadly because he's voiced by James Woods. Of course, Stuart and the Littles can't believe Margalo is anything other than a sweet bird who sings bromides like "You're only as big as you feel," and of course their love is sure to conquer all.

Based on the popular children's books by E.B. White, STUART LITTLE is big on computer animation and being the best person you can be. But while the brightly colored New York backdrops seem to be in a world all their own, one can't help but cringe when we see the skyline that includes the Empire State Building and conspicuously absent Twin Towers.

Indeed, the film is so genteel and well-mannered it's the cinematic equivalent of lying in a bowl of oatmeal. While the story progresses at a nice clip and doesn't overstay its welcome (it clocks in around 75 minutes), it also gives one's mind a chance to stray and ponder certain details. Like:

1) Who must have Jonathan Lipnicki ticked off to have his part reduced from lead in the first film to fifth or sixth banana in the second?

2) In playing the '50s retro-styled father, Fredrick Little, is Hugh Laurie consciously trying to do a full-on impersonation of Herbert Anderson in the old DENNIS THE MENACE TV show?

3) Why is the biggest laugh in the whole movie when alley cat Monty (Steve Zahn) mouths "please" just like he did in the original?

No matter. Audiences with their sensory perception blown out by recent fare like MEN IN BLACK II can find soft solace in STUART LITTLE 2's gentle approach to humor. And as far as well-edited chases go, you can't beat the airplane/falcon duel that climaxes the film no matter what the rating. Now if they only could have spent a little more time on the title...

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