Stuart Little 3 - L'appel de la forêt

Stuart Little and his family are out vacationing at a lake in a rented cabin. Unlike the combination of live action and animation of the first two movies, the whole thing is entirely animated.

Basically the story is about Stuart and friends finding and having an adventure with the local animals, with the villain this time known as The Beast. What to do about him, since he wants to eat the animal cast? In the end Stuart finds the way to get rid of his threat.

This story is still good for the kids. Nothing special but good enough not to bore or dismay them, and there is no potty humor to worry about. Certainly better than, say, Barney the Dinosaur.

Stuart Little 3 features a richly layered performance from Tara Strong, but that may be this dour threequel's sole distinctive feature.

This cartoon second sequel to the original was made direct-to-DVD due to the financial disappointment which was SL2, and after watching it you'll probably wish they hadn't bothered.

The majority of the voices from the live-action series are there, but the animation is ugly to say the least and the plot is constantly interrupted by annoying musical interludes...

...None more so dire than the one sung by an irritating new character called Rico, an obnoxious skunk who's solo number reminds me of the rapping dog from The Legend Of The Titanic. If you're curious what I mean by that, don't be. For the sake of your soul.

In any case, aside from a few amusing one-liners from the always loveable Snowbell, this is an infinitely missable cash-in deservedly destined for obscurity. In a world where Disney and Pixar exist, why bother? 4/10

I must admit that this film was very well animated compared to other animated films of the same time frame. It looks more realistic, which compared to the first two films is excellent. And the voice-over work in this film is by far excellent. Most of the cast from the first two returned, with the exception of Jonathan Lipnicki. But Wayne Brady's voice appears in the film as Reeko the skunk. Thats a plus.

Some of the scenes though, very much reminded me of scenes from earlier Disney films. For instance, the lioness on the rock is reminiscent of Pride Rock from "The Lion King." And the name of the skunk is Reeko, very similar to Meeko from "Pocahontas." Even the forest animals are very similar to those in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and "Bambi." The animation. although well done, seems to be a rip off of Disney films.

After careful consideration, I gave this film a 6.

"Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild" is a significant departure from its predecessors. This third installment forgoes the live-action/animation hybrid of the first two films, opting for a fully computer-animated format. While this shift in style offers some visual possibilities, it ultimately fails to capture the charm and magic of the earlier movies.

The story follows the Little family as they embark on a camping trip, where Stuart encounters a mischievous raccoon named Reeko. Reeko, voiced by Wayne Brady, convinces Stuart to join his "Wild Bunch," a group of forest creatures who believe humans are the enemy. This leads to a series of predictable misunderstandings and adventures as Stuart grapples with his newfound "wild" identity.

The animation, while not terrible, lacks the polish and charm of the previous films. The character models often appear stiff and lifeless, and the overall visual style feels generic and uninspired. The voice acting, while featuring some familiar voices from the previous films, is inconsistent and often lacks the emotional depth and nuance of the earlier installments.

The plot is thin and predictable, relying heavily on tired tropes and formulaic storytelling. The humor is often juvenile and forced, failing to elicit genuine laughs. The film also lacks the heartwarming message and emotional resonance that made the first two films so endearing.

While "Stuart Little 3" may entertain very young children with its bright colors and fast-paced action, it ultimately fails to capture the magic and charm of its predecessors. The lackluster animation, predictable plot, and forced humor make it a disappointing entry in the franchise.

In conclusion, "Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild" is a significant step down from its predecessors. The shift to full CGI animation and the reliance on generic storytelling result in a film that lacks the charm, humor, and emotional depth of the earlier installments. While it may offer some entertainment for very young children, it ultimately fails to recapture the magic of the original "Stuart Little" films.