Stuart Little

Genre: Kids

Opening Weekend Gross: 15.4

rated : PG for mild language and some peril ( 3+ )

for brief language

( warning: contains no spoilers, but many key plot items , if you don’t want to know the full plot , please do not read this , although it tells you , the real truth about “STUART LITTLE”) – sounds like an X-files thing , doesn’t it?

We have seen many amazing and high quality animations this year, such as Tarzan, The King and I, and Toy Story 2. How can we expect any more unbelievable animations?

The Previews for Stuart Little, showed it as a cute, entertaining comedy about a mouse, adopted by a human family, who is witty and adventurous. I would like to compare this film to mouse trap, because they both contain annoying mice that are supposed to be cute, but really make you want to strangle them. Also, because they both looked good in the previews, but turned out to be un-funny, supposed-to-be comedies. They should have just called this film “Mouse Trap 2”.

But, like I said, we cannot expect too many spectacular animations in one year. Some of these films are aimed towards children, and some are meant to be slapstick and un-funny, So I am going to tell this from a teenager’s point of view, while what I say is meant for teenagers, not kids, who will probably adore this film.

Mrs. Little, her husband, and their son, George (9 years old), are planning on adopting a little boy, so George can have a little brother. George hurry’s off to school excitedly, in anticipation of who he will meet when he arrives back home.

His parents go to the foster home and are over-delighted, as they see many little children, who seem all equally wonderful and merry. They look and look, and listen and listen, but can’t seem to choose from all the wonderful children before them. Then, they hear a small voice below them. They see a talking mouse (apparently, talking mice are common in this area, as they don’t seem at all surprised), who tells them that they will immediately know who that special one is, after talking to that one, because that is how the heart works. They are in awe, as they see that the mouse is the one. (of course).

So, they take the over-exited, “Stuart” home, to show to they’re son, after signing the adoption papers (yeah right). When they take Stuart home to their son, these are his words, “ He’s not my brother, he’s a…mouse, “door slams”. That would probably be my  reaction also, knowing that I could get grounded for ruffing up a mouse, or calling him a name. His parents both agree, that Stuart will grow on him.

Stuart loves his home, as everything is perfect, except one thing, “Snowflake”, the pet cat. Snowflake immediately decides to dine with Stuart (if you know what I mean), but Stuart's new parents tell snowflake to drop him, because he should know better than to eat a family member. For now Stuart and Snowflake just avoid each other.

Anyway, as expected, George becomes friends with Stuart, and they do just about everything together, just as normal brothers would. But, one night the cat gets jealous, and decides to try and kill Stuart. Stuart runs from Snowflake and his cat friends, as they go on a time consuming adventure through Central Park. Will Stuart survive and find his way home? Will the cat learn to love? Will Stuart get any sympathy from me if the cat digests him? Hmm…my senses say “no”.

Before I wrap this up…let me give you the one and only comment I have to offer for this film. The animation was very good, as It made the mouse look and seem just as a mouse would…ugly, rotten, and incredibly annoying. (Kind of like Jar-Jar from Star Wars)

Stuart Little is not one for the family, but one for the kids of the family, who will definitely enjoy this. Adults will be board to tears, when they take their kids to see this, so a suggestion…have your wife stay with the kids and get a good nap, and you can go see “The Green Mile”, with Tom Hanks. Stuart Little gets my pathetic one star, only because the mouse was an amazingly great thing to think about killing , when you are mad about something.

Word to parents – 2 d-words, and 2 possible h-words in this film, with one minor suggestive comment, and some minor adventure peril…. (Keep kids under 3 out of this one, the close-ups of the cat growling could frighten them, as their were crying babies at are theater) PG.

-Grant Hooper, 1999