The film premiered in 2002 and introduces us to what would turn out to be one of Disney's most beloved characters, a little blue alien with generally bad manners and (as it turns out) a heart of gold.
The film opens in the distant reaches of space at a trial for a mad scientist who has created Experiment 626 - a being created with great strength and the instincts to destroy everything (particularly large cities). In the process of trying to exile this creature, Experiment 626 escapes and finds himself marooned on an island in the Pacific Ocean. Aloha!
Meanwhile, Lilo (a little Hawaiian girl) is having trouble adjusting to life with her big sister (after their parents passed away), making friends, and just staying out of mischief. The mad scientist (Jumba) and the alien "Earth" expert (Pleakley) are dispatched to Hawaii to retrieve Experiment 626, where as luck would have it, Lilo has adopted Experiment 626 from the pound and heads home with her new "dog" named Stitch.
Now all that's left to do is convince Mr. Cobra Bubbles (the social worker) that Nani (Lilo's big sister) is an adequate caretaker (and find her a job); teach Stitch to stop destroying everything (and some manners); oh, and prevent the other aliens from capturing Stitch and blowing up Hawaii. Sounds like a recipe for some Disney magic!
So going into this film, I did not consider myself a fan of Stitch. Bad manners and general bad behavior are two things that I have no patience for - and they pretty much define Stitch. HOWEVER, Stitch is a dynamic character which means by the end of the film, he managed to etch a small piece of territory in my heart. He learns that his actions have consequences (even if they are unintended) and that the most important thing is family and the people you love.
Lilo & Stitch has so many of the ingredients that make a Disney film great. It has great humor (Example: the aliens consider Earth a protected planet because it is a natural habitat for the "universally-endangered" mosquito. Ha!) It has a good story and plot. You end up rooting for Lilo and Stitch to get their happy ending. It has good music. Not as great as say The Lion King or Aladdin, but significant nonetheless. I mean, musically, the film has Elvis and "Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride." Decidedly significant.
But as usual, the most important factor in the definition of the Disney great film is that it has heart. And this ingredient, Lilo & Stitch delivers in spades (aka a large amount). Because at the root of the film, it's really all about family - even if your family looks a bit unconventional. As they say in the film: Ohana means family and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten. And so we've made it to another film that made me cry. Twice. It was not as bad as this tearjerker, but it definitely hit me in the feels.
Lilo & Stitch is a must-watch on this Disney journey. Preferably with family (and a box of tissues).
I think Stitch, himself, sums up the film the best, and so I'll end this post with a quote from a little blue alien:
This is my family. I found it all on my own. It's little and broken, but still good. Yeah, still good.
Coming Up Next: Treasure Planet
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