Common Sense Media Review
Sweet book-based tale has some emotional intensity.
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Stuart Little
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 21 parent reviews
Based on 24 kid reviews
Kids say there are mixed feelings about the film, with some finding it a charming family classic, while others criticize its premise and content, deeming it unsuitable for young viewers due to instances of violence and mild language. The character of Stuart is adored by many for its cuteness, but there are strong negative opinions regarding the logic of adopting a mouse over human children.
- charming family classic
- mixed opinions
- unsuitable for young viewers
- instances of violence
- adored character
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Mr. and Mrs. Little (Hugh Laurie and Geena Davis) drop son George (Jonathan Lipnicki) off at school on their way to the orphanage to adopt a child. They fall in love with Stuart (voice of Michael J. Fox), who is charming, insightful, unselfish -- and a mouse. Despite warnings against "interspecies" adoption, they bring him home. George is disappointed and doesn't see how Stuart will ever be able to play with him. And maybe he is a little more jealous than he was expecting. The Little's cat, Snowbell (hilariously voiced by Nathan Lane), is furious and plots to get rid of Stuart. Stuart manages to surmount enormous obstacles. He even wins over George, after proving his courage and loyalty in a boat race. But he still wonders about his birth parents. Stuart faces the biggest decision of his life when two mice show up claiming to be his birth parents.
Is It Any Good?
E.B. White's story of a family whose son happens to be a mouse is lovingly Hollywood-ized. In other words, it bears very little relationship to the book but has a lot of great special effects. Fans of the book will do well to stay at home and re-read it, but families looking for some good action scenes, appealing characters, and a wise-cracking cat will enjoy it very much.
This is a terrific movie for families who can overlook the potty humor and profanity. Stuart, created entirely through computer graphics, is perfectly integrated into the live action, especially the exciting boat race and chase sequences. The script by M. Night Shyamalan does not talk down to kids and has some genuine insights about sibling rivalry, the fear of failure, and family.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about books based on movies. Are the movies ever as good as the books? Have you read the book upon which this movie is based?
How were the moments of violence and peril shown in the film? Did they seem necessary to the story, or did they seem forced in to make the movie seem more interesting?
How does this movie address the issue of adoption? How is this similar to and different from the ways in which other movies and TV shows depict adoption?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 17, 1999
- On DVD or streaming : May 21, 2002
- Cast : Geena Davis , Hugh Laurie , Michael J. Fox
- Director : Rob Minkoff
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Columbia Tristar
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Book Characters
- Run time : 84 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : language and tension
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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