Honestly, it’s kinda wild looking back at the year 2002. We were all obsessed with the cast of Stuart Little 2, even if we didn't totally realize how much star power was packed into a movie about a CGI mouse and a yellow canary. You've probably seen the memes lately or caught a clip on TikTok, and maybe you thought, "Wait, was that actually Hugh Laurie?"
Yeah. It was.
The thing about this sequel is that it didn't just play it safe. It doubled down on the charm while adding some serious weight to the voice acting booth. While the first movie was about a mouse finding a home, the second one is a full-blown New York adventure. It’s got a vibe that feels like a tiny version of a Scorsese film, mostly because the talent behind the characters treated the material with such weirdly high stakes.
The Big Names in the Little Family
Let's talk about the humans first. You cannot have a conversation about the cast of Stuart Little 2 without starting with the parents.
Geena Davis returned as Mrs. Eleanor Little. She’s basically the epitome of that early 2000s "cool mom" but with a slightly overprotective edge that drives the plot when Stuart starts getting adventurous. Then you have Hugh Laurie as Mr. Frederick Little. Most people today know him as the grumpy, pill-popping genius in House, but back then, he was playing this incredibly earnest, slightly bumbling American dad. It’s still one of the best "hidden" performances by a British actor doing an American accent.
And then there's Jonathan Lipnicki. The kid was everywhere in the late 90s. As George Little, he’s the anchor for the "real world" parts of the movie. It's interesting to see him transition from the tiny kid in the first movie to the slightly more mature big brother who has to cover for Stuart while he’s out on a dangerous mission.
The Voice Powerhouse: Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox is Stuart. There’s no other way to put it.
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His voice has this specific optimistic rasp that makes you root for a mouse even when he’s doing something objectively reckless, like flying a toy plane into a park. By 2002, Fox had largely stepped away from live-action leading roles due to his Parkinson's diagnosis, which makes his performance here feel even more special. He brought a sense of vulnerability to Stuart that keeps the movie from feeling like just another cartoon.
The Newcomers: Margalo and The Falcon
This is where the movie gets its "cool" factor. The sequel introduced two major characters that completely shifted the dynamic.
- Melanie Griffith as Margalo: She voiced the canary who falls (literally) into Stuart's life. Griffith has that breathy, soulful voice that worked perfectly for a character who is secretly living a double life. She’s not just a damsel in distress; she’s a grifter with a conscience.
- James Woods as The Falcon: If you want a villain that actually feels scary to a seven-year-old, you hire James Woods. He plays The Falcon with this sharp, predatory intensity. He’s the one who forces Margalo to steal from the Littles. He basically runs a tiny bird-crime syndicate in the middle of Manhattan.
Most people forget that the chemistry between a mouse and a bird is what carries the emotional weight of the film. It's sort of a "noir-lite" plot buried in a G-rated family movie.
The Secret MVP: Nathan Lane
We have to talk about Snowbell. Nathan Lane as the family cat is arguably the best part of the entire franchise.
In the first movie, Snowbell was a straight-up antagonist. In Stuart Little 2, he’s the reluctant sidekick. Lane’s comedic timing is legendary. He spends half the movie complaining about his "delicate constitution" or the fact that he’s a house cat being forced to walk through the streets of New York.
"I’m a cat! We don't do 'outside'!"
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His dynamic with Steve Zahn, who voiced Monty the Mouth (the trash-eating alley cat friend), provides most of the laughs for the adults watching. They’re like a bickering old married couple, but with fur and a taste for canned tuna.
Why This Specific Cast Worked
It’s about the "straight man" energy.
In a lot of modern CGI movies, the actors tend to overact because they think they’re competing with the animation. The cast of Stuart Little 2 did the opposite. Hugh Laurie and Geena Davis played the scenes with Stuart with a level of sincerity that made you forget they were probably talking to a tennis ball on a stick during filming.
When Mrs. Little is panicking about Stuart being missing, Geena Davis isn't "acting for a kids' movie." She’s acting like a mother who lost her child. That groundedness is why the movie holds up way better than other "talking animal" flicks from that era.
Weird Details You Might Have Missed
There are a few "blink and you'll miss it" cameos and roles that are fun to spot now.
- Brad Garrett: The deep-voiced guy from Everybody Loves Raymond shows up as a plumber. It's a tiny role, but his voice is unmistakable.
- Maria Bamford: The legendary stand-up comedian has a small part as a teacher.
- Marc John Jefferies: He played Will Powell, George's friend. You might recognize him from Power or The Get Down as he got older.
The movie also used a mix of real animals and CGI. While the main characters were digital, they had real cats on set for certain movements. The American Humane Association actually had a lot to say about the "animal action" in this one because the integration was so seamless.
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Looking Back on the Legacy
If you're going back to watch it now, pay attention to the dialogue. The writing team, which included Bruce Joel Rubin (the guy who wrote Ghost, believe it or not), gave the cast some actually clever things to say.
The movie deals with some heavy themes for a "kids' film"—betrayal, the fear of growing up, and the idea that friendship isn't always easy. James Woods’ Falcon represents a very real kind of bully, and the way the cast handles those darker moments is why people still search for the movie today.
Your Stuart Little 2 Rewatch Checklist
If you're planning a nostalgia trip, keep an eye out for these specific moments where the cast shines:
- The "soccer game" scene where Hugh Laurie’s "dad energy" is at a 10/10.
- Any scene where Nathan Lane is talking to himself while walking through the city.
- The final confrontation on the Pishkin Building—James Woods goes full villain mode here.
- The quiet moments between Michael J. Fox and Melanie Griffith where they discuss what it means to be "free."
Basically, this cast turned a simple sequel into something that feels surprisingly permanent in the pop culture landscape. It wasn't just a paycheck for these actors; they actually built a world that felt lived-in and real.
Next Steps for the Ultimate Fan
If you want to dive deeper into the world of E.B. White’s characters, your best move is to track down the "Making Of" featurettes from the original DVD release. They show the incredible voice-acting sessions where Michael J. Fox and Nathan Lane recorded their lines—seeing the faces behind the fur makes you appreciate the performances even more. You should also check out the 2003 animated series if you want to see how the characters evolved after the movies, though be warned: the voice cast changed for most of the roles, and it definitely feels like a different beast entirely.