Lilo & Stitch Review
by Robin Clifford (robin AT reelingreviews DOT com)June 21st, 2002
"Lilo & Stitch"
A diminutive creature, dubbed Experiment 626, is brought before the Galactic Federation to be exiled for being an abomination. The product of genetic engineering by mad scientist Jumba (voice of David Ogden Stiers), the little guy is super strong, super smart, and super-destructive. The mutant critter escapes in an intergalactic police cruiser and jumps through hyperspace to Earth (specifically, Kauai Hawaii) where a lonely little girl named Lilo (voice of Daveigh Chase) adopts him, thinking the creature, now named Stitch, is a dog. But his mad creator is tasked with recapturing the fugitive and things get interesting in Disney's "Lilo & Stitch."
Lilo and her 19-year old sister Nani (voice of Tia Carrere) were orphaned not long ago when their parents went out one day for a drive and never returned. The two sisters have only each other, but Nani has a hard time holding down a job while raising Lilo, a none-too-easy task. They may not have much more than each other but even that is jeopardized when in intimidating-looking social worker, Cobra Bubbles (voice of Ving Rhames), tells Nina that she has just three days to get her act together or lose Lilo to a foster home. Complicating this is the younger sister's attachment to her new "dog," the destructive Stitch.
"Lolo & Stitch" is a pastiche of stories that the film's creators, Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois (the force behind Disney's "Mulan"), have woven together into an integrated fabric that ties everything together. Orphaned Lilo and Nina, when they are threatened with being separated, learn the importance of 'ohana - the Hawaiian concept of family. Escapee Stitch has never had a family but, through his exposure to little Lilo, he too learns the true meaning that familial love where "no one gets left behind." Cobra Bubbles' appearance at the sisters' front door bodes none too well as the state turns its eyes to Lilo and how she is being raised by Nina. There is also the interstellar hunt to bring Experiment 626 back to the Federation for permanent exile on a deserted asteroid.
With the recent "fad" of using computer-generated imagery (CGI) as a major, if not main, tool in creating animated features, it is kind of comforting (in a retro sense) to see a children's animation come out of Disney utilizing the tried-and-true, old-fashioned hand drawings. The traditional cel animation has a flat, two-dimensional quality that gives a completely different look from the "real" looking CGI. "Lilo & Stitch" benefits from the old-style anime by allowing the viewer to devote his/her attention to the story and characters and not the computer F/X. For the first time in about 60 years, watercolors are used for the background animation, giving the movie a throwback feel of classic Disney films like "Dumbo" and "Snow White."
The vocal talents behind the animated characters are first rate. Daveigh Chase puts an appropriately intelligent spin on Lilo without making the little girl too precocious. Tia Carrere does a solid job voicing the older sister, Nina, overwhelmed with the responsibility of raising her little sis. Ving Rhames is both menacing and amusing as an ex-CIA agent turned social worker. David Ogden Stiers puts an outrageous Russian accent on mad scientist Jumba and with his sidekick, Earth "expert" Pleakely (voice of Kevin McDonald), is out to capture Stitch and break up the struggling little family. Helmer Sanders gives voice to Stitch and, although the little critter doesn't say a lot, has an awful lot of character.
The story, by Sanders and LeBlois, is anything but retro from the opening scenes where Experiment 626 is brought before the collection of alien creatures that constitute the Galactic Federation. This changes gears, quickly, when the attention shifts to Hawaii and the very lonely little outcast, Lilo, a caring young lady who spends her extra money to feed the fish in the ocean. The tale that transpires is one of two worlds colliding in both an amusing and thoughtful way.
In a major departure from the usual Randy Newman tunes that have become an almost mandatory musical staple for Disney animated flicks, the makers of "L&S" have opted to populate the musical interludes with none other than the songs of the King - Elvis! This throwback to the roots of rock 'n' roll is familiar, entertaining and befits the retro aspect of the movie. Six original Presley tunes, including "Hound Dog," "Blue Hawaii" and "Suspicious Minds," are complimented with cover versions of a couple of other Elvis songs.
The offbeat sci-fi adventure coupled with a quite touching story of family-lost/family-gained will appeal to a broad audience demographic, though the story is a little mature for the younger tykes to grasp. But, the wild and wacky title character, Stitch, will appeal to the little kids, making this a film for the whole family. Older audiences will have no problem embracing all of the characters and the offbeat humor. I give it a B+.
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