Stuart Little (2002)

BOOK: E. B. White, “Stuart Little.”

ADVENTURE COMEDY: (2002, PG.) (Columbia Pictures) (1 hr, 18 min) Stuart, a talking mouse, is part of a nuclear family with father Frederick, mother Eleanor, older brother George, and a baby sister Martha who all treat him as if he were human. However, when George begins to pay less than total attention to Stuart, he become depressed. He also chafes under Eleanor’s overprotective attitude. Optimist Frederick tells him that every cloud has a silver lining and moments later an apparently injured yellow bird, Margalo, falls into his miniature red sports car. When Margalo says she’s being changed by Falcon, Stuart takes her home to recover where she, too, is instantly and totally accepted by the family. As Stuart and Margalo become friends, we learn the Margalo is working for Falcon as a thief. She steals Eleanor’s diamond ring and leaves. Unaware, Stuart and his cat friend Snowbell lie to Eleanor and go in search of Margalo. When Stuart tries to rescue Margalo, he learns that she is a criminal and Falcon throws him off a tall building. Stuart wakes up on a garbage barge and builds an airplane with which he rescues Margalo and attacks and defeats Falcon. Margalo returns the stolen ring, apologizes, and then fulfills her dream of migrating south with the other birds (do canaries migrate?).

VIOLENCE/SCARINESS: Stuart is in peril several times from several falcon attacks, during a soccer game, and while flying a toy plane; he also falls from high places several times with no harm. Falcon is quite threatening. Stuart shoots an arrow at Falcon but it bounces off harmlessly.

CRIMES: Theft (U).

MORALS, ISSUES & VALUES: Frederick and Eleanor treat Stuart as their son, the fact that he’s a mouse does not affect their emotional bond. They are perfect parents: they are sensitive to each other’s feelings, moods, and fears and consciously compensate for each other. Stuart chafes against his mother’s over protectiveness. While Eleanor worries about Stuart, Frederick believes he can do anything he sets his mind to. Stuart’s parents teach him the difference between right and wrong and that actions have consequences, but for this knowledge to take hold, he must go through several emotionally painful and physically dangerous experiences. Eleanor is so gratified in finding Stuart that neither of her sons is punished for lying. Stuart’s optimism, trust, and positive attitude affect Margalo’s attitudes and she changes from a criminal to being honest. However, Margalo returns the ring she has stolen and is not punished. George must decide between keeping a promise to his brother Stuart not to tell his parents about Stuart’s adventures and his recognition that Stuart may be in danger and may need help from adults. Margalo works for Falcon because he found the orphaned bird and took care of her. Margalo tells Stuart that one is as big as one feels. When Stuart parks his tiny car overnight, it is stripped and covered with graffiti the next morning. Diversity Issues: The inter-species romance between Stuart and Margalo is a metaphor for racial tolerance. Language: One anatomical reference.

SEXUALITY, GENDER ISSUES & BODY FUNCTIONS: At the center of the film is a mouse who is adopted by a human family as an equal to their biological children. Nuclear family. Traditional gender roles. An athletic supporter is mentioned. Considerable bathroom humor regarding cat and bird feces and defecation.

SUBSTANCES: None.

COMMENTS: Where the original film dealt with issues of adoption and sibling rivalry, this one deals with what happens when an older sibling outgrows the young one and the resulting feelings of abandonment. This film about trust, honesty, friendship, and letting go; and everyone learns a lesson. The whole film is a demonstration of how an ideal family might operate (with a few exceptions). Falcon’s hold of Margalo is a metaphor for children who fall under the criminal thrall of adults who supposedly take care of them. On a date, they watch Hitchcock’s “Vertigo,” a film about a man who falls in love with a woman who is a criminal and deceiving him, but Stuart doesn’t get the hint (hopefully, the audience does). Parents may have to explain to children that in the real world theft is not forgiven if the stolen object is simply returned. Snowbell has all the best lines. Overall, a funny, warm, fuzzy, friendly, family film. (Reviewed July 2002)

STARRING: Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie, Jonathan Lipnicki, ANNA & Ashley Hoelck, and the voices of Michael J. Fox, Nathan Lane, Melanie Griffith, James Woods, Steve Zahn.

ALTERNATES: Another charming film about a talking animal interacting with humans is “Babe.”