Stuart Little 2

The sequel to “STUART LITTLE,” “STUART LITTLE 2,” is now available from COLUMBIA TRISTAR. E.B. White, known mostly for his “Winnie the Pooh” stories, has created another great fantasy tale for children and whole families with Stuart.  Stuart, a mouse, voiced by Michael J. Fox, is raised by a human family, as if he was no different than human, other than for his size.  This allows him to interact with a mom, dad and brother, in scenes often having adorable outcomes.   In this sequel, Stuart’s older brother, George, is becoming more active with other kids, and Stuart’s often left behind feeling alienated. 

The casting for this film is terrific.  Fox has the perfect voice for Stuart, sounding cute, but curious and naïve about his surroundings.  Geena Davis and Hugh Laurie are perfect as Stuart’s adoptive parents.  They’re exactly the kind of parents any kid can relate to or wish to have, offering the kind of over-concern, but well-meaning spirit that makes one feel safe and loved.

As with the original, “STUART LITTLE 2,” at times, feels more like a series of episodes than a completely well-crafted story, but it does have its share of dilemmas, lessons, and even a few tense moments, culminating in the perfect film for the entire family to enjoy together.  The special effects, may computer-generated, are wonderful and extremely realistic. 

COLUMBIA TRISTAR has preserved the film’s 1.85:1 aspect ratio with 16:9 enhancement, as well as the option of a “full frame” version on the same menu.

The transfer looks outstanding! Colors are bold and there’s great depth to every scene. The texture to Stuart’s fur is almost 3-dimensional in its appearance!  The contrast is also great, allowing for deep blacks and grays, making even the darkest scenes offer excellent clarity. 

COLUMBIA TRISTAR has provided a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix for this release.  While not overly aggressive, there are some great surround effects, and the front soundstage has its share of creative directional effects as well. Dialogue is always intelligible and free from distortion.

As this is a “Special Edition,” there are several extras included here.  An audio commentary with the director and visual effects supervisor is offered.  While it’s mostly technical, the enthusiasm of the two for the film is evident and infectious, making it worthwhile for fans of the film. “A TOUCH OF EVIL” is a featurette exploring the design process for the character of Falcon.  “LIFE IN THE FAST LANE” looks at the CGI process for the film’s character effects.   We also get a “read-along” and interactive game.