Stuart Little II

With "Spider-Man," "Men in Black II" and "Mr. Deeds" raking in some serious cash at the box office, the Summer of 2002 is destined to go down in Hollywood history as the Summer of Sony. The studio is clearly having a ball with its success, and with "Stuart Little 2", the sequel to 1999's $300 million hit, finally hitting theaters, the party isn't slowing down anytime soon.

What's immediately surprising is that in an age where most sequels tend to suck (see the aforementioned "Men in Black II"), the charming "Stuart Little 2" has the dubious honor of being just as good as--if not better than--the movie that inspired it. Heartwarming, adorable and very funny, the family film is superior to its predecessor in just about every way.

Now that the pint-sized Stuart (Michael J. Fox) is all settled in with his new family, things couldn't be going any better. He's close with his big brother (Jonathan Lipnicki), he has a new baby sister, and even the pampered cat Snowbell (Nathan Lane) has gotten used to the idea of having a potential meal running around the house. Still, with all of Stuart's family ties, he still yearns for something more--specifically, a friend who's just like him. He gets his wish when an injured bird named Margalo (Melanie Griffith) literally falls onto his lap on his way home from school. The Littles immediately take Margalo under their wing, but they don't realize that she is hiding a secret that may put Stuart's life in danger.

Returning director Rob Minkoff immediately sets the endearing, soothing tone of the film with what has to be the first full shot of downtown Manhattan in a movie since 9/11. Instead of being uncomfortable, the scene is reassuring and captures the New York skyline in all its vibrant glory. And with the tender rendition of the song "Put a Little Love into Your Heart" playing in the background, the movie pays tribute to everything that's great about the city and its people.

For the most part, the 78-minute sequel is more than just a padded retread of its predecessor (did I mention "Men in Black II?"). The shock of having a mouse as a member of the family has been replaced by everyone's complete acceptance of the situation, and the sickly-sweet idealism of Mr. and Mrs. Little (Hugh Laurie and Geena Davis) is much more of an in-joke this time around. It also helps that Snowbell (voiced with snobby perfection by Nathan Lane) steals every scene he is in with some of his brilliant one-liners.

As for the returning cast members, Geena Davis and Hugh Laurie are still so lovey-dovey that they make the Brady Bunch seem evil by comparison, while Jonathan Lipnicki is finally looking older than he did in "Jerry Maguire." Michael J. Fox once again lends just the right amount of charm and sensitivity to the voice of Stuart, and he's a great match with newcomer Melanie Griffith, whose vulnerable, high-pitched girly voice makes her perfect for Margalo.

Thanks to its colorful and vibrant cinematography, "Stuart Little 2" maintains a timely and timeless feel that solidifies its innocence and upbeat nature. It's also not surprising that the phrase "every cloud has a silver lining" keeps popping up throughout the film. Maybe "Stuart Little 2" is a reminder that no matter how bad things get, you can always look on the bright side of life by putting a "little" love into your heart.