He's clever, enthusiastic, a can do guy with attitude - and he's a mouse. From Rob Minkoff, director of The lion king, comes the comedy adventure Stuart Little. Combining live action with groundbreaking visual effects technology by the artists and innovators at Sony imageworks, it's the story of a mouse who is raised by the Littles, a regular New York family (Geena Davis as Mrs Little, Hugh Laurie as Mr Little and Jonathan Lipnicki as George).
Stuart (Michael J Fox) embarks on adventures with a variety of characters, including his nemesis, Snowbell the cat (Nathan Lane), he learns the true meaning of family, loyalty and friendship.
Special Agent Matti
Hehehe! HahaHa! Hohoho!
Stuart Little is as funny as a whack on the head with the funny stick. It's a little bit soppy, a little bit scary and a little bit predictable but it's all cool.
The CGI (computer generated imagery) is the best to date, not only for Stuart's incredible detail, but the talking cats as well. In fact, the cats absolutely steal the show. They're real cats with animated talking and expressions and they so behave like real cats and like people that you will fall on the floor laughing. They also have the best lines, but cats always do.
Big surprise, there is a cat living in my house.
The story is pretty basic (boy meets family, boy gets family, boy loses family, boy gets family back, the end) but that leaves plenty of room for fun and carryings on. These words underlie all of Stuart Little, changing it from a soppy family drama to a laugh a minute adventure. Kids of all ages (except 13-year-olds: you know what 13-year-olds are like) will find plenty to enjoy. Even adults and babysitters will have a good chortle, especially at the jokes which are aimed over the nippers' heads.
There's nothing offensive in this film, unless you're afraid of mice or allergic to cats, and even that non-offensiveness isn't offensive. There are dark tones throughout that complement the sweetness and light. George is really rude to Stuart when he first arrives, the Stouts kidnap Stuart under the pretence of being his long lost family, the cats are devious and underhanded (especially Smoky the mobster) and even the adults continually tell lies to their children. That's a big step forward for American films (although not so big for animation, which has always been able to get away with more than live action). One day they might even get irony.
Whoever you are, reading this review, go and get Stuart Little: it's great fun and more than worth the rental fee. Enjoy!
G
85 minutes (1:25 hours)
Film: Undated September 2000