While I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, I hold with the minority opinion that it isn't up to the standards of the original. The first movie succeeded in being sweet and charming without being the least bit sugary. Alas, the sequel doesn't entirely avoid this pitfall (that "little high, little low" business is just a little gagging). Also, the plot is too predictable, although that probably won't matter much to children, who are, after all, the film's target audience.

These are really minor quibbles, though. "Stuart 2" is a fine movie, both for kids and adults. The special effects are well-done, all the actors do a good job in their roles, and the dialogue has some real gems. Particularly noteworthy is Snowbell, the cat (voiced to hilarious perfection by Nathan Lane). He gets all the best lines, and steals every scene he's in--he even upstages Stuart himself! Verdict: Good movie. Go see.

Stuart Little 2 (2002): Dir: Rob Minkoff / Cast: Hugh Laurie, Geena Davis / Voices: Michael J. Fox, Melanie Griffith, Nathan Lane: Major improvement after the pathetic film that preceded it. This one is broader in its themes and contains a simplistic plot yet detailed structure and exciting climax. Hugh Laurie and Geena Davis return as Mr. and Mrs. Little and they are as plain and cardboard as they were in the first film where they seemingly adopt a mouse that wears clothes and not bat an eye at the absurdity. Here we accept it and Stuart joins George Little, the son of the parents, at school. He scores a new friend in the form of a bird named Margalo. She lands in Stuart's miniature car to escape a falcon but the real story is that she is a thief under threat by this falcon. She is forced to steal Mrs. Little's wedding ring. She disappears and Stuart is determined to locate her and face the falcon. Directed by Rob Minkoff who made the horrible first film as well as the Disney masterpiece The Lion King. Michael J. Fox voices Stuart, the mouse determined not to be outdone by his small stature and face odds larger than life. Melanie Griffith voices the soul searching Margalo who discovers friendship and a life outside crime and oppression. Nathan Lane steals scenes voicing Snellbell the fluffy cat with an appetite for food but shies away from danger. Strong themes for families regarding making a difference regardless of one's size. Score: 7 ½ / 10

Mother Little (Geena Davis) is overly protective of Stuart (Michael J. Fox) and his little size. Mr. Little (Hugh Laurie) is more confident. He almost gets injured in the soccer game when brother George (Jonathan Lipnicki) scores the winning goal. George has a new friend Will. Stuart tries to fix George's model plane, he gets an unintentional ride and wrecks it. George is not happy with Stuart and they grow apart. Then canary Margalo (Melanie Griffith) falls from the sky into Stuart's car. A falcon (James Woods) is chasing them. Margalo is hurt and she stays with the Littles. It turns out that Margalo and the falcon are in it together to rob the Littles. The falcon pushes Margalo to steal mother Little's ring and she flies away. Stuart and Snowbell (Nathan Lane) set off into the scarier parts of NYC to find her while George covers for them.

This doesn't have the fun of discovery of this charming world where a little mouse is treated as any other boy. This starts off with a strained brotherhood between George and Stuart. That could have been a good subject to explore. Instead they introduce a cute canary and sets Stuart off on a different adventure. So instead of a deeper character relationship story, it's another children's adventure story. It's still good for the kids, but not much for everybody else. The short running time also points to the thin material they're working with in this one.