Stuart Little 2

Comedy, Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Michael J. Fox	Stuart Little
Geena Davis	Mrs. Little
Hugh Laurie	Mr. Little
Jonathan Lipnicki	George Little
Anna Hoelck	Martha Little
Ashley Hoelck	Martha Little
Nathan Lane	Snowbell
Melanie Griffith	Margalo
James Woods	Falcon
Steve Zahn	Monty

Director	Rob Minkoff
Producer	Lucy Fisher; Douglas Wick
Writer	E.B. White; Douglas Wick

A combination of modern technology and more traditional filmmaking, Stuart Little 2 is, like its predecessor, a beautifully innocent children's movie. While the likes of Shrek and Monster's, Inc. have taken human actors visually out of the picture, Stuart Little 2 is more old-fashioned in its approach and themes: the tale of a big-hearted little mouse is familiar to anyone raised on classic Disney. For those who haven't seen the first film a fairly hefty suspension of belief is required, but this is an engaging tale. Packing everything into to a succinct 70 minutes the plot is a simple story, full of heartfelt platitudes and uplifting messages. Nathan Lane adds a welcome touch of sharp humour as the voice of Snowball the cat, and Hugh Laurie and Geena Davies' portrayal of Mr and Mrs Little has a knowing edge beneath their squeaky clean exterior. It may lack the cultural suss of some of its competitors, but Stuart Little 2 is hugely recommended for those wishing to be entertained, young and old alike.

On the DVD: Stuart Little 2 is an absolute visual delight, interweaving the worlds of real action and computer generation to sumptuous effect. The colours are vivid and bold, giving the film a cartoon, almost fantasy, quality that suits the feel of the story. There's a rake of extras, including several behind the scenes and technical featurettes that could possibly spoil some of the magic for younger children. That particular audience, however, will be entertained by the succession of games, stories, competitions and Web links. --Phil Udell