Stuart Little 3 - Ruf der Wildnis

"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.

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 is back in an all awful sequel and this time he's a boy scout. It's funny how nature is seen in this movie as a playground meant to be tame and fun for city people with no idea of how to distinguish a pine tree from a mushroom. The cougar portrays of course the forces of evil who must be tracked down and vanquished by a goody-goody lab rat and a cat who acts more like an overgrown guinea-pig than a cat. The parents are as usual a goofy, happy pair with the father who sees vicious, vampire skunks and rabid chipmunks behind every single slimy toadstool and the mother who smiles and cleans up the mess without complaining.

Stuart Little and the family are spending their summer vacation at a Lake Garland cabin. Stuart can't wait to strike out and have an adventure in the woods, but everybody is against it. Then Brooke tells them that there is a Beast in the woods, and he likes to eat cats. The creatures of the forest all cower at the feet of the Beast. Stuart befriends a skunk named Reeko (Wayne Brady) as he seeks adventures in the woods.

This is just a shadow of its past. There is nothing left other than a poorly drawn computer animated straight to video movie. At least most of the actors return to voice their characters. But it's really not watchable for adult. This is strictly cheap entertainment for the very young set.

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.