Stuart Little

By RICHARD SCHICKEL

It's marginally more probable that Stuart is the Littles' adopted son, as he is in the film, than their natural offspring, as he was in E.B. White's classic children's novel. He is, after all, a wee mouse. But sooner or later, in both cases, disbelief is suspended, and we take the brave, chipper and very decent rodent (voiced by Michael J. Fox) to heart. Though Stuart's adventures seem more breathless onscreen than they did on the page, the blend of digital animation and live action is first rate. Eventually Stuart wins over even Snowbell, the Littles' cat (Nathan Lane). That scheming feline is a tougher audience than any Stuart is likely to encounter in theaters.

--By Richard Schickel