Honestly, if you grew up in the early 2000s, you probably remember the sheer anxiety of watching a tiny mouse fly a model airplane through the skyscrapers of New York City. Stuart Little 2 wasn’t just a quick cash-grab sequel; it was one of those rare family films that actually felt bigger and more emotional than the original. A huge part of that magic came down to the Stuart Little 2 cast, a wild mix of Oscar winners, sitcom legends, and a very specific "it-kid" of the era.
Looking back now, the lineup is kind of insane. You’ve got a future House star, a legendary voice actor who basically defined the '90s, and a villain voiced by one of the most intense actors in Hollywood. It’s a weirdly stacked deck for a movie about a mouse in a sweater.
The Human Faces: The Littles and Beyond
While the CGI was the big selling point, the humans kept the whole thing grounded. Well, as grounded as you can be when you’ve legally adopted a rodent.
Geena Davis and Hugh Laurie returned as Eleanor and Frederick Little. Davis brought that perfect, slightly overprotective mom energy, while Laurie—years before he became the cynical Dr. Gregory House—was the quintessential, bumbling-but-sweet dad. It’s still funny to see Laurie in this role if you only know him for his later, grumpier work. He’s just so... nice.
Then there’s Jonathan Lipnicki.
The kid with the glasses. By 2002, Lipnicki was basically the face of "cute child actor." In this sequel, his character George is dealing with growing up and wanting to play with kids his own size, which leaves Stuart feeling a bit isolated. Lipnicki eventually took a long break from acting to live a normal life and, interestingly enough, became a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
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- Geena Davis (Mrs. Little): The emotional heart of the home.
- Hugh Laurie (Mr. Little): The supportive, slightly confused patriarch.
- Jonathan Lipnicki (George Little): The older brother finding his own way.
- Anna and Ashley Hoelck (Martha Little): The new addition to the family, Stuart’s baby sister.
The Voices That Made the Movie
The real heavy lifting in Stuart Little 2 happens in the recording booth. You can't talk about the Stuart Little 2 cast without mentioning Michael J. Fox. His voice is Stuart. There’s a certain vulnerability and pluckiness he brings that makes you forget you’re looking at pixels.
But the sequel needed a spark, and it got that from Melanie Griffith as Margalo.
Margalo is a canary with a dark secret, and Griffith’s breathy, airy voice was the perfect fit for a bird who is literally and figuratively "flighty." She’s the catalyst for the whole plot, falling into Stuart’s convertible and turning his world upside down.
The Scene-Stealers: Snowbell and Monty
We have to talk about Nathan Lane.
As Snowbell the cat, Lane is easily the funniest part of the franchise. His comedic timing is legendary. Whether he’s complaining about his fur or reluctantly helping Stuart on a rescue mission, his "I'm too old for this" energy is a vibe. He’s joined again by Steve Zahn as Monty, the scraggly alley cat who is basically Snowbell’s bad influence.
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The Villain: James Woods as Falcon
If you thought the first movie lacked a truly menacing threat, enter James Woods.
Woods voices Falcon, the terrifying crime boss of the New York skies. He’s not a "cartoon" villain in the goofy sense; he’s actually pretty intimidating. He treats Margalo like his property and sees Stuart as nothing more than a snack. Woods brings that sharp, fast-talking intensity that makes the stakes feel surprisingly high for a PG movie.
Why This Cast Worked So Well
Most sequels fail because they lose the chemistry of the original or add characters that feel like filler. Stuart Little 2 avoided that by leaning into the "odd couple" dynamic between Stuart and Snowbell.
The movie is only about 77 minutes long. It’s tight. Because the cast—specifically Fox and Lane—had already established their rhythm in the first film, they didn't waste time. They jumped straight into the adventure.
Also, the addition of James Woods gave the movie a darker edge that the first one lacked. It made the world feel bigger and more dangerous. You weren't just worried about Stuart getting lost; you were worried about him being hunted by a literal predator.
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Behind the Scenes Tidbits
Most people don't realize that the "cast" also included a lot of real animals. While Stuart, Margalo, and Falcon were CGI, Snowbell was played by several different white Persian cats. According to the American Humane Association, trainers used "bait sticks" and toys to get the cats to look in specific directions before the CGI mouse was added in post-production.
One cat, named "Prince," was usually the one used for close-ups because he had the most expressive face.
What to Do If You're Revisiting the Franchise
If you’re planning a rewatch or introducing the Stuart Little 2 cast to a new generation, keep an eye out for the small cameos. Maria Bamford, the brilliant stand-up comedian, voices the teacher. Brad Garrett (from Everybody Loves Raymond) shows up as a plumber.
Your Stuart Little 2 Action Plan:
- Check the Credits: Look for the name Bruce Joel Rubin. He wrote the screenplay for this sequel, but he also wrote Ghost and Jacob’s Ladder. It explains why this movie feels a bit more "soulful" than your average talking-animal flick.
- Compare the Voices: Listen to Michael J. Fox’s performance here versus his work in Back to the Future. The range is wild.
- Spot the "House" Transition: Watch Hugh Laurie closely. You can almost see the moments where his "clueless dad" persona starts to crack, hinting at the dramatic powerhouse he’d become just a couple of years later.
The legacy of this cast is that they treated the material with respect. They didn't "voice down" to kids. They played the emotions for real, which is why the movie still holds up as a genuine New York adventure today.