CHARACTER STUDY Adopted ''son'' to a family of well-off New Yorkers, E.B. White's storybook rodent gets animated with some help from the always popular Michael J. Fox.

SOUND BYTE ''I'm so happy, I feel 10 inches tall!''

WHY WE LOVE HIM Stuart thinks he's a little boy trapped in a mouse's body -- but in reality he's a special-effects marvel trapped in a lame kiddie movie. Without Stuart's CG wonders (and those of his parakeet pal Margalo, in ''Stuart Little 2''), this strictly-for-tots flick would offer nothing for parents. And without Stuart's heart and soul, this film wouldn't stand a rat's chance.