The only made-for-tween films that have done respectably this year are "Mouse Hunt" and "Paulie," both from Dreamworks.

"Mouse Hunt" managed to survive the Christmas crush and has done well on video.

He has also written big-budget mainstream movies like "Mouse Hunt" and "Small Soldiers."

As the family film least insulting to its audience's intelligence this season, "Mouse Hunt" has its share of grown-up appeal along with mouse mischief guaranteed to have children giggling.

"Mouse Hunt" is rated PG (Parental guidance suggested).

"Mouse Hunt," is the company's most notable success: it cost only $30 million and has grossed $121 million around the world.

Mr. Verbinski can assemble a movie like a machine, which worked for the scare comedy "Mouse Hunt."

After completing a short film, The Ritual (which he both wrote and directed), Verbinski made his feature film directing debut with his comedy flick, Mouse Hunt.

Released in theaters in December, "Mouse Hunt" has made $60 million at the box office, which is a very healthy performance for a family-oriented film.

Mouse Warfare His current film, "Mouse Hunt," came about when Dreamworks sent him the script and he thought it sounded like a strangely twisted sort of children's movie.