LILO & STITCH
A Walt Disney Pictures release 

review by Joseph B. Mauceri

SYNOPSIS: Lilo is a lonely little Hawaiian girl who lives with her nineteen-year-old sister/guardian, Nani. The girls are struggling to make it on their own. When a social worker drops by for a visit he finds the sisters in the middle of an argument and the house in a shambles. He warns Nani that she has three days to prove to him that she's an appropriate guardian, or the situation will change. That evening, Lilo sees a falling star soar past her bedroom window and wishes for "someone to be her friend, someone who won't run away." She adds, "Maybe send me an angel ö the nicest angel you have." That falling star is a spaceship belonging to Stitch, a mischief-making creature (known as "Experiment 626") who has escaped from the planet Turo. His creator, a mad scientist named Jumba, explains that Stitch's " only instinct·to destroy everything he touches." Upon his arrival Stitch is run down by a truck and wake up in an animal shelter, where he "charms" Lilo into adopting him. Realizing that Lilo and Nani provide a perfect safety shield against Jumba and
Pleakley, Stitch welcomes the adoption and "sticks like glue" to his new family. The rules of
this game are anything but predictable, and Lilo and Stitch find themselves on an intergalactic adventure that could possibly turn a "little monster" into a member of Lilo's family.

REVIEW: LILO & STITCH is a rare Disney animated success that is based on more inspiration and a collage of animation styles then their other successful films, such as "Beauty and the Beast" or "The Little Mermaid." LILO & STITCH  blends the coldness of outer space with the plush warmth of a Hawaiian setting through a contemporary heartfelt struggle of  "a little broken family" coming together. As a film critic, you can see the plot's homages to films like "Goonies" or "Men in Black." For me, it's important to watch a film like this with kids in the audience. They're a clean slate, and if the film is working you can sense it from the kids sitting around you.  They get a magical experience because to them the story and characters are still fresh. But the magic of this Disney animated feature is even effective on adults. The filmmakers focus on the emotional aspect and development of the characters so we can forget about all the other stuff until after we've experienced this gem. I know the adults were just as excited as the kids leaving the theater. The real key is the narrative's ability not to talk down to the children. Of course there are some gags, but the relationships and message about family is serious, and never joked about. It's all about Ohana, the Hawaiian for family, where  "No one is left behind..."

The animators do a wonderful job, seamlessly blending different styles of animation to create a feast for the eyes. On one hand you have the space creatures, contrasted against the humans and earth creatures. The vast coldness of space, and the plush, green and blue Hawaiian landscape. Computer generate images working with background paintings. Then there is the image of  "The King," Elvis Presley, that is scanned into the film.

Even the score carries on the theme of contrast, as Alan Silvestri's score is blended with some great Hawaiian music, along with the sounds of Elvis Presley.

So what is LILO & STITCH about? It's a kaleidoscopic celebration of our differences. No matter who you are, or where you come from, if your heart is open we can find within ourselves that spark that unites us all as part of the same family. Oh, and that if you're looking for someone to model your life after, Elvis Presley was the perfect model citizen...

OFFICIAL WEB SITE:
 http://www.disney.go.com/stitch

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