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STUART LITTLE 2

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Because of: brief crude humor

Rated:

Okay, so maybe Stuart Little wasn't on the top of my "to see" list, but as a family outing it was great fun. Those who believe the talking mouse is only for kids are in for a surprise... some of the satire and humor that makes the film so much fun is more adult-oriented than anything. So grab your little sister or brother or borrow your cousin for the day and check it out.

The Little family has grown. Stuart is no longer the baby in the household and is feeling somewhat left out. Little curly-headed Martha is hardly his cup of tea, and George seems to be growing out of him... into friends his own size. Being as small as he is, Stuart is also over-protected by his adopted mother Eleanor, who wants to limit him to "safe" hobbies. But for a mouse with big dreams, the sky's the limit... literally. After crashing George's new miniature plane, Stuart finds himself on his brother's bad side. But as his dad informs him, "to every cloud there's a silver lining." And Stuart's silver lining is just about to drop in. Margalo, a golden sparrow, one day takes a dive into his convertible, a falcon dead on her heels. Stuart manages to save her from becoming midday lunch and invites her home, where she's welcomed into the family.

The two become fast friends... but more lies to Margalo than first meets the eye. And when she goes missing out of her own devices, Stuart believes that she's been kidnapped and sets out with the family feline, Snowbell, in tow to save the day. Full of great computer animation, hilarious punch lines, and a charming premise, Stuart Little 2 will win over any family. The kids will love Stuart, the parents the irony. And here's another plus... the cat this time is actually the good guy.

Unlike most sequels which are generally major disappointments, this little mouse flick turns out to be a big surprise. The Little family may be stereotyped, a throwback to the Leave it to Beaver family of the late fifties, right down to the hairstyles and wardrobe choices, but they care about each other. The parents rarely argue and hold genuine respect for one another. The kids get along. Even the cat has settled down and accepted "the mouse" into the family. Even in Disney films generally there's only one parent, and with the exception of Ariel and Pocahontas, this parent is usually a bumbling idiot. It's nice for once to see a stable family with both parents in a children's movie. Viewers will also appreciate the fact that there's no swearing (other than an occasional use of "poop" by the family cat) and all the jokes are clean. The adventures themselves... from a nasty falcon in an aerial chase to a trip down the sink drain... are a lot of fun.

It isn't often you can pack up the entire family and see a movie that appeals to everyone. Stuart Little 2 is a great sequel on par with Toy Story 2. With a cast of memorable voices and a soundtrack that, among others, sports the likes of Mandy Moore and Celine Dion, it's the best family flick of the summer. I in particular liked some of the running gags that only older kids will get... a reference to the "burning bush" in Exodus, and a wink at Jimmy Stewart in Vertigo.