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07/26/02

Frank's film tip: It's a fun game of cat-and-mouse when revisiting our furry four-legged friend in "Stuart Little 2"

In the year 2000, a randy rodent burst on the scene and captured the little kiddie hearts by storm. Yes, the original Stuart Little was a kids' flick doused with warmth and high-spirited jubilee. The special effects were mighty impressive to behold and Stuart (voiced again by the equally lovable Michael J. Fox) proved to be the chosen favorite cheese-nibbling darling this side of Mickey Mouse. Let's face it...who could resist the innocuous set-up that told the wonderful exploits of a human family who adopt a talking mouse as their very own? Quite frankly, who wouldn't be reduced to tears of laughter and joy concerning our furry four-legged friend?

Well, Stuart and company are back after a two-year hiatus to serve up some more good-hearted entertainment in the festive, light-minded children adventure sequel Stuart Little 2. In this case, an element of familiarity is definitely welcomed as most of the original cast are back for more of a frolicking time.

Director Rob Minkoff, who helmed the delightfully spunky predecessor, generates a vibrant mixture of pathos that the smaller kids will take to with inquisitiveness. The use of live-action and computer-generated images work marvelously and it lends some emotional punch to the storyline where this family-oriented fantasy for the tykes delivers its endearing impact. Clearly, Stuart Little 2 is the best kid-oriented romp of the summer so far, devoid of any sugary manipulation or cutesy condescension that some of its contemporaries engage in with shameless regularity.

We find poor Stuart feeling down in the dumps once again as he questions his worthiness within his adoptive family. It appears that Stuart has taken a back seat regarding the affections of his kin: his mother (Geena Davis) is understandably focused on the new baby (wiping out Stuart's distinction as being the special "arrival") while sibling George (Jonathan Lipnicki) has taken on other interests. Hence, Stuart feels as if he has no movement whatsoever and feels as restricted as...well...as if someone left him in a darn mousetrap! In a nutshell, the little vocal critter feels isolated and ignored.

Things start to pick up emotionally for the sad sack Stuart when a disabled bird named Margalo (Melanie Griffith) enters the scene and brings a healthy dose of companionship to the melancholy mouse. But soon things start to get threatening when the evil-minded Falcon (James Woods) abducts the helpless Margalo. Of course this dubious episode gives Stuart Little the chance to launch a plan and in a strange sense, give him an agenda to take on the intrigue of rescuing his beloved Margalo with required urgency. Thankfully, the raucous rodent can exist with some purpose and momentarily forget his personal woes at home.

What's so special about Stuart Little 2 is its ability to be a pithy fable that both amuses and informs its impressionable youthful audience. The film's redeeming qualities nicely maps out the concept of confused feelings ranging from abandonment issues to tackling one's self-worth through emotional discovery. Through the pesky Stuart, kids are able to identify with separation and alienation. In addition to the movie's astute observations on these themes, Stuart Little 2 creates a cozy haven for family fare that is refreshingly spry and poignant. Bruce Joel Rubin's screenplay is as rollicking as it is tenderly thought-provoking.

The movie's computerized and technical makeup is astoundingly effective therefore giving the talking creatures a convincing three-dimensional charm to go along with the rapier-like wit. Fox voices the likable Stuart with a sympathetic edge that's reliable and wistful. And it's great to see Nathan Lane back as he injects into Snowball (the Littles's wise-cracking family cat) the jolting sarcasm that made this funnyboned-feline the breakout hoot in the first flick. Snowball, along with bird-brained Monty (Steve Zahn), are not featured on screen as much as one would like them to be. However, Woods is deliciously ruthless as the foul-tempered Falcon and Griffith is sweet and vulnerable as the imperiled Margalo. The "human" cast members are quite okay but ironically aren't as "animated" as their computer-generated co-stars. Geena Davis's toothy smile and Hugh Laurie's goofy optimism is an occasional scream, though. They simply have to be one of the most positively dysfunctional parenting duos ever to play nursemaid to an attention-starved hairy varmint.

Stuart Little 2 will have audiences, young and old, running in a maze as they appreciate this entire polished production. There's nothing cheesy about this frothy four-legged fellow and his quest for acceptance, that's for sure!

Frank rates this film: stars