Stuart Little [G]

When Mr. and Mrs. Little decide to adopt a little boy to be a little brother for their son George, they are at a loss at who to pick. But then they meet Stuart, a charming little orphan with a huge heart and a distinct trait perfect for the Little family: he’s a mouse. At first, George is not too happy with having a mouse as a brother, but the two soon become thick as thieves, which makes it hurt more when the family cat, Snowbell, humiliated at having a mouse for a master, comes up with a plot to remove Stuart from the picture for good. 

I used to love this film as a child and it’s a sad fact to admit that, even though I have it in my collection as a classic, it just doesn’t hold the same appeal for me now. Based on the children’s book by E.B White, Stuart Little is a heart warming and simpering family film that is not without its charm, but just doesn’t stand up for me the way it did when I was younger. 

When Mr. and Mrs. Little decide to adopt a little boy to be a little brother for their son George, they are at a loss at who to pick. But then they meet Stuart, a charming little orphan with a huge heart and a distinct trait perfect for the Little family: he’s a mouse. At first, George is not too happy with having a mouse as a brother, but the two soon become thick as thieves, which makes it hurt more when the family cat, Snowbell, humiliated at having a mouse for a master, comes up with a plot to remove Stuart from the picture for good. 

Yeah, it’s just not as good as I remember, not that dissimilar to A Simple Wish. The story is cute and stable and it does feature some really lovely and poignant messages about love and what family is; acceptance and belonging, but ultimately it’s really too light, without that needed bout of intrigue. Even the climactic part was not so climactic. 

Although, to give it its dues, I do admire the computer effects on the animals: it’s a subtle computer animation, using the real cats and then just adding the needed movement of their mouths. It’s really good and subtle and does not at all look primitive or fake. The computer generated character was Stuart was good too, the texture of his fur looking quite realistic. 

Starring Hugh Laurie, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones, Jonathan Lipniki, and featuring the voice talents of Michaek J. Fox and Nathan Lane, Stuart Little is a nice little family film filled with heart warming messages, family, love, friendship, action, and comedy, but ultimately it really is a simpering and predictable kids’ film that just doesn’t stand up for me as much as it used to.