Lilo & Stitch Review
by Laura Clifford (laura AT reelingreviews DOT com)June 24th, 2002
LILO & STITCH
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When orphaned Hawaiian girl Lilo (Daveigh Chase) wishes upon a
star for a friend, her guilty guardian, older sister Nani (Tia Carrere, "Wayne's World"), takes her the next day to adopt a pet. Meanwhile, escaped Experiment 626, a genetic mutant designed to destroy, is terrorizing cats and dogs at the local pound it was taken to after crash landing and being run over by a truck. These two oddball creatures will come to epitomize 'ohana, the Hawaiian concept of family, in Disney's animated "Lilo & Stitch."
Certainly the hippest of Disney's animation, "Lilo & Stitch" has more in common with "Edward Scissorhands" than "Snow White." This slightly deranged tale combines elements of Disney's oldest works with Japanese anime, Warner Brother cartoons, Polynesian luaus, social services and Elvis Presley.
Based on an idea by the inspired cowriter/codirector Chris Sanders (who also supplies the voice of Experiment 626/Stitch), "Lilo & Stitch" is further proof that traditional hand drawn cel animation is far from dead. Sanders and his "Mulan" partner Dean DeBlois went so far as to revive the watercolor background, not used in animation since the 1940's, to provide a lushly soft landscape for the mostly Hawaaian set action.
Lilo is an endearingly odd little girl. Arriving late for dance class soaking wet, she explains that her sister forgot to buy peanut butter, which she had to run and buy for Pudge, a wild fish who predicts the weather. Teased by her mean-spirited 'friends,' she responds with a full out physical assault. As Nani despairs over her difficult charge, the two engage in an all out shouting match just in time to be witnessed by Cobra Bubbles (Ving Rhames, "Pulp Fiction"), the new massive, dark suited, intimidating social worker who gives Nani three days to get her act together.
Experiment 626 knows that his creator, Jumba (David Ogden Stiers, "Beauty and the Beast"), and one-eyed earth specialist Pleakley (Kevin McDonald, "The Kids in the Hall") are hot on his trail, so he retracts two of his six legs and his atennae to masquerade as the affectionate pet he spies on a shelter poster. To Nani's horror, the ugly 'dog' is embraced by fellow outsider Lilo and dubbed Stitch. As Stitch's destructive tendencies and his alien pursuers cost Nani her job, then her house, then her sister, Stitch learns about love from the ever loyal Lilo.
While its family values are true and heartfelt, "Lilo & Stitch" is also howlingly funny and offbeat. We're treated to the locals' eye-view of a tourist luau as Lilo waits in the back for her working waitress sister. Stitch, constantly streaming babble that sounds like a Japanese horror flick (clear stupidheads aside), is fascinated by "Earth vs. the Spider" playing on a store window TV. Later he builds a pseudo San Francisco in Lilo's bedroom - then destroys it in a Godzilla parody in order to feed his genetic needs. A red alien police ship in pursuit of Captain Gantu (Kevin Michael Richardson, "The Family Guy") sounds a warning with a horn that plays "La Cucaracha." Lilo, who sulks to the sounds of The King, promotes Elvis as model citizen to Stitch. In fact, "Lilo & Stitch" uses more Elvis tunes than any movie not starring the King himself.
The animation is terrific, from the colorful and original alien world to the full figured female Hawaiian characters. Surfing scenes feature realistic wave motion, aided by computer generation, as surely the gleaming hardwood floors were, seen during a fluid hula dance scene. Retro touches include a tank top burned tourist who can't quite finish his ice cream cone and the Barbie brats who 'nyah-nyah' the wrong ugly dog. Music is also key. Besides the prominence of Presley, island sounds are provided by the Kamehameka School Choir and Tia Carrere sings a touching Hawaiian lullaby.
From its space politics, where Grand Councilwoman (Zoe Caldwell, "The Purple Rose of Cairo") sentences based on an individual's worth to society, to its themes of broken homes forming wide-reaching families, "Lilo & Stitch" has something for everyone. Don't be a stupidhead - go see this engaging Disney delight.
A-
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