OxfordPress.com

Grade: B-

Verdict: Just as cute as last time.

Details: Starring the voices of Michael J. Fox, Geena Davis and Nathan Lane. Directed by Rob Minkoff. Rated PG for brief strong language. One hour, 12 minutes.

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Review: You don't need to have seen the first edition to get "Stuart Little 2." Basically, it's about a talking white mouse (expertly voiced by Michael J. Fox) who lives in New York with his family, the Littles. Along with Stuart, Mr. and Mrs. Little (Geena Davis and Hugh Laurie) are raising George (Jonathan Lipnicki) and the "boys'" new baby sister, Martha (Anna Hoelck)

The recent arrival of the littlest Little, Martha, has made Mrs. Little overly protective -- of Stuart, especially. And George,as he grows older, is branching out and finding new friends, which makes Stuart feel abandoned.

Then a pretty little bird named Margalo (Melanie Griffith) flies into Stuart's life. She's being pursued by a falcon (James Woods) and takes refuge with the Littles while her broken wing gets better. Stuart gets his first crush, but Margalo isn't necessarily what she seems.

When she abruptly disappears, he sets out to find her, with some reluctant help from the family cat Snowbell, whom Nathan Lane amusingly plays as a definitely neutered kitty who probably likes track lighting.

There's nothing really to dislike about the movie. The effects are quite good (especially the computer-generated Stuart). The action sequences are exciting. The characters' voices are well done. (Griffith is another stand-out.) And it's surprising how easy it is to accept a talking white rodent as your hero -- easier, actually, than believing the Littles somehow live in a three-story brownstone in the middle of Manhattan.

No question, your kids will like "Stuart Little 2." You probably will, too. However, the picture lacks the effortless charm and imagination that made the original "Spy Kids" so special. And it is bothersome, on some level, that this cost over $100, million while an independent filmmaker like John Sayles struggles to raise a fraction of that for a striking work like "Sunshine State."

— Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, (none)