Hey folks, Harry here... Like I said in my SCOOBY DOO review, this was one of the trailers that my 2 year old nephew, KublaKhan reacted very postively too. He liked the talking mouse and birdies... yes he did oh goochie goochie gooodeedoodieeedooo.... aawwwwwwww, isn't he so cuuuuuteeeeeeeeee.... Ahem, sorry, flashback... Here's Thalberg with how the whole film is...
Hey Harry.
Thalberg here, writing from Toronto in the great white north, although it's pretty hot these days.
I just came from a screening for Stewart Little 2, which I attended with my nine year old daughter and two young nephews. This was an invitation only screening where everyone brought their kids, so it was packed with Sony's target audience.
I must admit I am probably one of the few parents who has not seen the original SL, so I came in blind. I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. Although this film has sequel written all over it, it was quite entertaining.
Borrowing somewhat from Oliver Twist, SL 2, has Stewart befriending a female bird who turns out to be a shill of sorts for an evil falcon, played by James Woods. (Just an aside, but my daughter turned to me at one point and asked me if the falcon was the same voice of Hades from Hercules. You can't fool kids these days).
The falcon wants a diamond ring owned by Stewart's mom, and has planted the female bird into the Little family to steal it. Why a falcon would want a diamond ring is never explained, but this seemed to be of little small consequence to the delighted young audience watching this film.
What I truly enjoyed was the way that everyone accepts Stewart into their world without a thought. Stewart goes to school, plays soccer, drives his sports car down the sidewalk and this is completely normal in this film. Stewart is accepted as a member of the Little family and by society. Nice message there.
The Littles are very Ward and June Cleaver, very loving and supportive parents to their kids, including Stewart. They live in a great house, wear great clothes and are a complete 50's type throwback to an era of what Hollywood represented the nuclear family as being like. Except one of their kids is a mouse. And even though this is a family film, Gina Davis is sporting a huge rack under those wholesome cashmere sweaters. Bonus.
Now the critical part. This is terrific family entertainment. Sony obviously has a great franchise here, and if they want to keep it going, just keep on doing what they're doing. The CGI effects are fantastic, the story is good, not great, but will keep the young ones and probably their parents interested, and the characters are endearing.
Michael J. Fox as Stewart brings an "aw shucks" Jimmy Stewart sensibility to the role of Stewart. The acting is perfectly adequate for this film and the CGI characters are as endearing and believeable as their live action counterparts. I believe it was Sony Imageworks. If it was, kudos to them for their amazing work (check out Stewart's fur moving while driving his car and the falcon's feathers while flying. Incredible!) So that's it. Feel free to take the kids to see and enjoy a really great family film.
Thalberg reporting from Toronto.
