STUART LITTLE

US, 1999, 80 minutes, Colour.
Michael J. Fox, Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie, Jonathan Lipnicki, Nathan Lane, Bruno Kirby, Jennifer Tilley, Dabney Coleman, David Allan Grier, Jon Polito, Harold Gould, Jeffrey Jones.
Directed by Rob Minkoff.

Stuart Little is a delightful entertainment for the whole family. The film is based on a story by E.B. White, author of Charlotte’s Web, who wrote the novel of Stuart Little in his fifties (during the 1950s).

Stuart is a mouse who is adopted by the Little family as a brother for George (Jonathan Lipnicki). Geena Davis and Hugh Laurie portray the devoted parents. While George gets to like his brother, the family cat Snowball (voiced hilariously with insinuation by Nathan Lane) is hostile. Snowball has a number of other cat friends who are voiced by Chazz Palminteri, Steve Zahn, David Alan Grier, Bruno Kirby and Jennifer Tilly. Stan Freberg, the comedian, has a vocal part as a race announcer.

The film portrays the warmth of a typical American family. We enjoy the adventures of Stuart, overcoming the limitations of his size and of his being a mouse, as he goes through the routines of family life as well as of school.

Parents will be amused by the film – but will also be amused by the positive response of their young children.

The film is directed by Rob Minkoff who directed The Lion King as well as the sequel to Stuart Little and the Eddie Murphy horror comedy, The Haunted Mansion. There was a third Stuart Little film, an animation film in which most of the present cast returned to give their voices to the characters.

1. The appeal of E.B. White's story over the decades? Children's entertainment? Adults'? The transferring to the screen?

2. The techniques used for Stuart Little, the mouse, animation? Live action? The mouthing of the words by Stuart and the cats? The musical score?

3. The realism of the story, the screenplay taking the events for granted? The comment on Stuart being a mouse by George? The Little family and their saying that he was adorable rather than that he was a mouse? Accepting the basic premise, the film being realistic in all senses afterwards? The entertainment value in accepting this premise?

4. The Little family, the ideal family? Good manners and everything nice in the household? Their wanting another child? Waking up that this was the special day? The anticipation? George wanting a brother? Going off to school? The Littles and the orphanage, the manager and her twittering? Watching the children? Listening to Stuart's comments? Being impressed by Stuart, deciding to adopt him? The caution about species by the manager? Taking Stuart home?

5. George's reaction, only a mouse, not very pleased? Mr and Mrs Little and their delight in Stuart, looking after him? The initial encounter with Snowball? Snowball tormenting him, putting him in the washing machine?

6. Stuart as a character, nice, Michael J. Fox's voice? From the orphanage, the emptiness inside not knowing what happened to his parents (and later finding out that they were killed by soup cans in a supermarket)? His good manners, well dressed? His love for his parents? Wanting to be a friend to George? The Little family and their arrival, making a fuss of him, gifts?

7. Mr and Mrs Little, niceness, looking after Stuart, rescuing him? Hoping George would like him? The boat race and their concern, Mrs Little becoming protective? The Stout mice coming to visit? Claiming Stuart, reluctantly letting him go? The concern, the true information from the manager, the search, going out to put up notices everywhere? Happy to have Stuart back?

8. George, his age, wanting a brother, not wanting a mouse? The hostility towards Stuart, Stuart making friends, helping repair the toys, the car gift? The boat? At Central Park, the nasty boy and his big boat and his cheating? George and his feeling a sense of defeat, not wanting to race, his father's support? Stuart and the boat, the accidents, winning? George claiming him as his brother? Upset when Stuart had to go with his parents?

9. Snowball, Nathan Lane's funny and literally catty lines? Hostility towards a mouse, feeling ashamed in the neighbourhood? His thug cat pals? The plan, the Stout family? Snowball's change of heart, going into the park? The gang, their pursuit of Stuart, talking about lunch, the car? Turning on Snowball, Snowball deciding to help Stuart? Stuart and his running away, falling into the drain? The waterfall? Eventually arriving opposite the house? Snowball taking him to the window, the reconciliation, the Littles welcoming Snowball?

10. The story of happy families, nice children? Nice mice? The photo and the comment that this was what people looked like in a fairy tale?