Stuart Little (film)

Did You Know?

• The soundtrack album was released by Motown and Universal Records on November 30, 1999.
• The end credits song 'You're Where I Belong' was written by Diane Warren and performed by Trisha Yearwood.
• The film was released on VHS and DVD in the United States on April 18, 2000.

Plot

In Manhattan, Frederick and Eleanor Little adopt an anthropomorphic mouse named Stuart from an orphanage as a brother for their son George. George initially refuses to accept Stuart, and the family cat Snowbell is disgusted. After a rough start—Stuart falls ill when trapped in a washing machine—he recovers. The Littles invite extended family to meet Stuart, and George admits he does not see Stuart as a brother.

Stuart asks his adoptive parents to find his biological parents. Later, Stuart encourages George to finish a model boat for a race, and a bond begins. Snowbell and alley cat friends plan to dispose of Stuart. During the boat race, Stuart takes control of the boat after George's remote is broken, wins the race, and George accepts him.

A mouse couple, Reggie and Camille Stout, claim to be Stuart's biological parents, and the Littles let Stuart leave with them. The orphanage head later reveals Stuart's real parents died years earlier, so the family realizes Stuart was kidnapped. Snowbell informs Smokey, who decides to assassinate Stuart.

Cast

Michael J. Fox voices Stuart Little, a young white anthropomorphic mouse adopted by the Little family. Nathan Lane voices Snowbell, the family's Persian cat who initially dislikes Stuart but later becomes his best friend. Chazz Palminteri voices Smokey, a Chartreux cat who leads an alley cat gang and plots to eliminate Stuart. Steve Zahn voices Monty, a gray tabby cat and Snowbell's best friend.

Jim Doughan voices Lucky, a Siamese cat in Smokey's gang, and also portrays Detective Allen. David Alan Grier voices Red, a ginger American Shorthair tomcat in the gang. Bruno Kirby voices Reginald Stout, and Jennifer Tilly voices Camille Stout, the mouse couple claiming to be Stuart's parents. Stan Freberg appears as the boat race announcer.

Geena Davis plays Eleanor Little, the matriarch; Hugh Laurie plays Frederick Little, the patriarch; and Jonathan Lipnicki plays George Little, their eldest son. Jeffrey Jones plays Crenshaw Little, Connie Ray plays Tina Little, Allyce Beasley plays Beatrice Little, Brian Doyle-Murray plays Edgar Little, Estelle Getty plays Estelle Little, Harold Gould plays Spencer Little, and Patrick Thomas O'Brien plays Stretch Little. Julia Sweeney plays Mrs. Keeper, Dabney Coleman plays Doctor Beechwood, Miles Marsico plays Anton Gartman, Jon Polito plays Detective Sherman, and Joe Bays plays the boat race starter.

Production

Development began at Columbia Pictures in 1997 after a film adaptation of Into the Woods stalled. The studio had acquired film rights to E. B. White's novel, with Douglas Wick producing under Red Wagon Entertainment. Rob Minkoff agreed to direct after reading M. Night Shyamalan's script. In early 1998, Columbia announced Minkoff as director with a budget originally under $90 million.

Minkoff had directed short films combining live-action and animation and co-directed Disney's The Lion King. All cats in the film were real, trained by Boone's Animals for Hollywood. The MPAA gave the film a PG rating due to the darker third act. Principal photography began August 3, 1998, on location in New York City and Central Park, and on soundstages at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California.

Stage 30 became the boat race set, and Stage 15 became the exterior of the 5th Avenue street. Filming wrapped on November 11 after twelve weeks. A painting used as set dressing, Sleeping Lady with Black Vase by Róbert Berény, was purchased for $500 at an antiques store; it was later identified as a lost work and sold at auction in 2014 for €229,500.

Reception

Stuart Little was released theatrically on December 17, 1999. On its opening weekend, it grossed $15 million, ranking #1 and dethroning Toy Story 2. It returned to #1 on its third weekend with $16 million. Its final gross in the United States and Canada was $140 million, with $160.1 million internationally, totaling $300 million worldwide. The film received positive reviews; CinemaScore audiences gave it an average grade of A−. Jesus Freak Hideout called it a near flawless family film, while Stephen Holden of The New York Times found the digital figure of Stuart visually unremarkable. Nell Minow of Common Sense Media praised its themes of acceptance. Roger Ebert gave it two stars out of four, stating the plot strained logic. Lael Lowenstein of Variety criticized its commercial approach and underdeveloped human characters.