Lilo & Stitch Review
by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)June 18th, 2002
LILO & STITCH
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2002 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ***
LILO & STITCH, written by Chris Sanders (MULAN), proves what SPIRIT: STALLION OF THE CIMARRON forgot. When you're making an animated feature, especially when it's a traditionally drawn one and not a computer drawn picture, it's all about the quality of the script. And in that department, the delightfully sweet yet charmingly edgy story of the little Hawaiian girl Lilo (voiced by Daveigh Chase) and her alien companion Stitch (voiced by director Chris Sanders) is a wonderful treat that's more for the ears than the eyes. The eyes, however, have plenty to enjoy. The soothing palette for the picture is made up of lush pastels, heavy on the blue. There's even a line in the movie that subtly pokes fun at its own color scheme.
The story concerns a lovable misfit originally named Experiment 626. A little guy with razor sharp teeth, he mainly just hisses when he isn't destroying something. With the ability to move objects three thousand times his size, he is a threat to everything with which he comes into contact. Because of this, he is banned to a far-off planet named Earth.
After landing on the island of Kauai, Experiment 626 ends up being incarcerated at the local dog pound, where he is adopted by Lilo, who names him Stitch. A loner who is constantly teased by her supposed friends, Lilo shares many personality traits with Stitch, so they make perfect companions.
A terrific subplot involves Lilo's big sister and guardian, Nani (Tia Carrere), who has trouble keeping her job because of Lilo and Stitch's antics and has trouble keeping Lilo out of the hands of the child protective service for the same reasons. Although Chris Sanders's voicing of Stitch is the best in the movie, close behind is the hilarious work of Ving Rhames as the voice of Cobra Bubbles, the child protective service officer who looks like a cross between a Secret Service agent and a private club bouncer.
LILO & STITCH is a movie with a good message ("Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.") that never feels preachy or disingenuous. It's also one that skewers the normally sacred text of animated movies -- environmentalism. The reason that the aliens can't just destroy Earth when they want to eliminate Experiment 626 is that our entire planet turns out to be a wildlife preserve for the endangered mosquitoes. Moreover, the aliens are strictly forbidden to kill any human beings since they are "part of the mosquito food chain." Just think about that the next time you're inclined to swat the mosquito that's noshing on your blood.
LILO & STITCH runs 1:25. It is rated PG for "mild sci-fi action" and would be acceptable for kids of all ages.
My son Jeffrey and his friend Nick, both age 13, gave the movie ***. They thought it was cute and funny and had a nice story.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, June 21, 2002. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC and the Century theaters.
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