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Mouse Hunt

Play trailer Poster for Mouse Hunt PG 1997 1h 37m Kids & Family Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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50% Tomatometer 36 Reviews 49% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
When their string magnate father, Rudolf Smuntz, dies, brothers Ernie (Nathan Lane) and Lars (Lee Evans) move into his decrepit mansion. Struggling to keep a promise to never sell the now unprofitable string factory, the brothers decide that restoring the house, the last built by a famous architect, could bring them a great deal of money. But during their restoration attempts, Ernie and Lars are continually frustrated by a malicious mouse that keeps destroying their efforts.
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Mouse Hunt

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Critics Consensus

Even with some vivaciously archaic mugging from its two leads, Mouse Hunt gets trapped under the weight of its excessive slapstick antics.

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Critics Reviews

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Mike Clark USA Today Mouse Hunt mostly squeaks by thanks to the considerable mugging prowess of its leads players, Lee Evans and Nathan Lane. Rated: 2.5/4 Jan 30, 2018 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Mouse Hunt is not very funny, and maybe couldn't have been very funny no matter what, because the pieces for comedy are not in place. Rated: 2/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Adrian Martin Film Critic: Adrian Martin Debut feature director Gore Verbinski skilfully employs a high-energy, expressionistic style. Rated: 3/5 Jul 30, 2025 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Here’s a slapstick comedy that bests the Home Alone series when it comes to mayhem movies aimed at family audiences. Rated: 3/4 Jul 6, 2025 Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal At once a raucous Rube Goldberg rondelay, a modern-day Marx Brothers comedy, a sweet story of sibling bonds, a stunning movie-magic mixture of effects work, and a successful challenge to find new levels of weird even for a guy like Christopher Walken. Rated: 4/5 Jun 29, 2025 Full Review Allison Rose FlickDirect Fans of '90s Home Alone will feel right at home with Mouse Hunt — the remastered 1997 comedy delivers a similar tone, physical gags, and charm. Rated: 3.5/5 Jun 23, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jack t My friend of mine told me to watch MouseHunt and as I was thinking about it, I finally got the chance in doing so and what do I think of MouseHunt? Well, all I gotta say is that, I enjoyed it. Yeah, I said it, I enjoyed watching MouseHunt. With the stars of Nathan Lane and British comedian, Lee Evans, they really have chemistry as the slapstick comedy really stands out. This is kind of like the Italian Laurel and Hardy slapstick comedy shtick. String magnate Rudolph Smuntz played by William Hickey, passes away bequeathing his financially cash-strapped factory and a dilapidated Victorian mansion to his sons Ernie and Lars played by Nathan Lane and Lee Evans. Following the will reading, both brothers suffer setbacks in their lives, Ernie, who shunned the family business to become a chef, accidentally loses his restaurant when a cockroach hidden in a box of cigars, causing the mayor to suffer a heart attack. Lars is kicked out of his house by his wife after he honored a promise to his late father to refuse to let a rival company, Zeppco International, buyout Smuntz String. They reunite in a diner and learn of the other's misfortune, leading them to spend the night in the mansion they inherited. They couldn't sleep 'cause of the noise something is making which turned out to be a mouse. So now it's up to them to kill it while other problems have been caused mainly by the mouse. With that I heard that it's directed by a newcomer at that time, Gore Verbinski. And the film also has some of the supporting cameo's like Christopher Walken and Ernie Sabella. Oh yes, if you think of Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella appearing in a movie together, you better think of Timon and Pumbaa from The Lion King. In fact, Nathan Lane actually says one line in the movie which got me laughing while gobsmacked when he actually says "Ah, Hakuna Matata." (Laughing) I'm not kidding with what I'm actually seeing. It's just that one mind-blowing moment that really got me. With what I looked in the trivia, Ernie Smuntz bows to a sheik who is seeking to bid for his home. In doing so, he greets him with "Hakuna Matata," which is the song he sings in The Lion King. So with Ernie Sabella appearing in one scene, we have Lee Evans like, "When he was a young warthog." "When I was a young warthog." "Very nice." "Thanks." Yeah, with those moments in time, everything's gas. And I'm glad I actually saw it. Noted that it's not nearly as forgotten like it had a memorable title, Mouse Hunt, as it is a kids film with a dark scenes and a few crude moments too, I can say that this is worth recommending if they haven't seen it, I sure as hell I have been recommended as it was trying too hard to be dark but not gritty and not gory. I think that joke's been underused by the time I'm doing this review. As it is, It's definitely worth recommending to the people if they wanted to have a good time for the Laurel and Hardy, Hakuna Matata, slapstick comedy kids flick. Truth be told that I'm not the only one who thinks of this, but doesn't Nathan Lane sounded almost exactly like YouTuber, JonTron? Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/31/25 Full Review Frank B Doing drama is easy. Drama comes easily. But comedy is hard especially good comedy. Some movies call themselves a comedy but don't come close. This is above average comedy well acted. The mouse is a standout. The actors do comedy with a straight face & it is funny. Very funny. A must watch. Enjoy. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/12/25 Full Review Obi-wan K I dont how this is bad like its alr Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/29/25 Full Review Jeffery P I like the unpredictable nature of good slapstick comedy. Yes, there's plenty of overacting. The story arc is entertaining with an oddball, but entertaining suporting performance from Christopher Walken. This is good family fun. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/10/25 Full Review Aidan M One of the fondest memories growing up. Mouse Hunt is the type of movie I haven't continually watched over the years but it's something I have retuned to every 5 or so years. Still to this day it's filled with laughs and good to see an old school comedy movie that breaks the normals of reality and gives a bit of fantasy to watch along to. Love the movie and a absolute classic Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/10/25 Full Review Barry A If want to see a live action film that’s like a cartoon this is the one. Well made and funny. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/10/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Mouse Hunt

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Mouse Hunt

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Movie Info

Synopsis When their string magnate father, Rudolf Smuntz, dies, brothers Ernie (Nathan Lane) and Lars (Lee Evans) move into his decrepit mansion. Struggling to keep a promise to never sell the now unprofitable string factory, the brothers decide that restoring the house, the last built by a famous architect, could bring them a great deal of money. But during their restoration attempts, Ernie and Lars are continually frustrated by a malicious mouse that keeps destroying their efforts.
Director
Gore Verbinski
Producer
Bruce Cohen, Tony Ludwig, Alan Riche
Screenwriter
Adam Rifkin
Distributor
DreamWorks SKG, Red Feather Photoplays
Production Co
DreamWorks SKG
Rating
PG
Genre
Kids & Family, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 19, 1997, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$61.8M
Runtime
1h 37m
Sound Mix
SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio
35mm
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