Review of "Stuart Little"

by Tim Wick

What a year 1999 has been! If this were 1998, "Stuart Little" would have possibly cracked my top ten list. This year, it doesn't come close.

That's not to say I didn't like the movie - I really enjoyed it. But a year that brought us "The Iron Giant" and "Toy Story 2" makes this film look like an also ran.

"Stuart Little" is based on a chaming children's book by E.B. White about a family that adopts a mouse for a son. I remember my father reading it to me when I was young. Now I will have to go and buy a copy because I need to read it again. I am certain the movie took extensive liberties with the original book and I am anxious to remeber what they are.

This is a children's movie. Only die-hard film fans (like me) are likely to go see it without tagging their children along. The humor is all directed at the kids and the theatre I was in was packed with kids laughing and having a great time.

The animination of Stuart is terrific. Just a few years ago, CGI would not have been capable of creating such a realistic character. Here, you often forget that Stuart is little more than a bunch of 1's and 0's. Michael J. Fox plays the voice of Stuart and was probably the perfect choice.

Hugh Laurie and Geena Davis play Stuars parents and they are both a little wasted in this movie. Laurie, most famous for his role on "Black Adder" doesn't really get the chance to show what a comic genius he is, though he nails the role he is given. Geena Davis - also capable of much more - is really only allowed to coo over her mousey son.

But these are really minor quibbles. The movie is under an hour and a half long and is delightfully void of any moral or deeper meaning. It is a great film to take your kids to. I enjoyed it and I'm sure they will too.