Lilo & Stitch (2002) Movie Review

Here is an unpopular opinion: I don’t care for this Disney installation of the early 2000s. It is generic, overstuffed & bland. Agree or disagree? 

Genre: Animation / Comedy / Drama / Sci-Fi 

Director: Chris Sanders & Dean DeBlois

Cast: Daveigh Chase, Chris Sanders, Tia Carrere, Ving Rhames, Jason Scott Lee, David Ogden Stiers, Kevin McDonald, Kevin Michael Richardson & Zoe Caldwell.

Run Time: 85 min.

US Release: 21 June 2002

UK Release: 04 Octobre 2002

German Release: 04 July 2002

Today’s Throwback Thursday is all about the alien animation from the House of Mouse. With the release of the live-action remake, I decided to revisit the original picture to compare it to its modern counterpart. In all honesty, this Disney flick is not one of my favourites, contrary to popular opinion.  It is the first Disney movie to represent Hawaiian culture; however, compared to Moana, it doesn’t fare well in rendering the original Polynesian culture. Being part of the post-Renaissance era, it also lacks the emotional side, something that Disney is usually very well-versed in. So let’s get rambunctious, with my review for Lilo & Stitch. 

— WARNING, THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS! —

When a male alien creature escapes intergalactic captivity, he is found plus adopted by the young orphaned Lilo and her teenage sister Nani. While Nani is fighting for her sister's custody, the creature soon learns about family values, all spanning during a hunt by aliens that want Stitch back in secure custody.

Co-director Chris Sanders created the character of Stitch back in 1985, after graduating from CalArts, though back then, he was conceived more as a woodland monster that had no real background explanation. He tried to pitch it as a children’s book, without success. Two years later, Walt Disney Feature Animation hired him for their newly shaped visual development department. From there, he quickly transitioned into storyboarding, leading the production of Mulan as Head of Story. During a late 90s retreat of studio execs, Sanders remembered his children’s book, pitching it to then executive vice president Thomas Schumacher. 

While I am not the greatest supporter of this film, I do respect the fact that the studio tried to create something unseen as of yet. As such, the leap into sci-fi paired with an unconventional human family structure made for a refreshing change in narration. Stitch’s identity crisis as a result of being a creature of experimentation parallels well with Lilo’s rebelliousness due to a lack of group integration. 

It also contains a strong emotional background, with the two sisters having lost their parents during a tragic traffic accident, as both are trying to make it through without being ripped apart by social government agencies, yet the final reconciliation is not well-earned.

Unfortunately, most of it is overshadowed by an overstuffed plot. The alien side-story got backdroped after its initial opening sequence. The manhunt for Stitch takes too much time, detracting from the core tale, however, it finds its footing again during the third act. Still, much of the science-fiction angle is underdeveloped. Finally, it's noticeable that Sanders was not well-versed in Hawaiian culture, as most of it focused on modern, post-American “colonisation” culture, rather than focusing on the island’s Polynesian routes. 

The dialogue, on the other hand, feels natural and authentic, even if specific key aspects are oversimplified. This can be forgiven, though, given that it is a children’s animated flick. The humour is well implemented, without feeling overbearing.

My biggest issue with this modern children's tale is the lack of connection towards the personas. I did feel sadness for what happened to Nani and Lilo, as well as the rough times they are both having, as one is not socially accepted, while the other is struggling to give her younger sister a sense of normality. That said, Lilo is so aggressively unthankful in the first couple of minutes, making it hard to like her. Equally, Nani is extremely underwritten for such an important role.

Stitch himself is given little personality. Yes, he is an experimental lifeform, but other than the comedic outlet, there is little that shapes who or what he is. As such, his emotional catharsis that focused on an identity crisis feels unearned.

Technically, Lilo & Stitch is as good as any other Disney movie of that era. The colour palette used stays true to the cultural background, using strong, vibrant tones. The lighting, in combination with warm colours, gives the whole picture a summer flair. The use of low shot angles enhances the story's emotional depth, with panoramic shots underlining its setting.

In contrast, the character animation is bland, bordering on lazy. Every person has the same facial features, making it hard to distinguish unrelated people from the main protagonists. While the watercolour backgrounds give it a storybook aesthetic that sets the animation apart from the changing digital trend of that time, it also lacked complexity, making it look unpolished.

The soundtrack was composed by Alan Silvestri, using songs written by Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu. It uses clichéd cultural tunes, mixed with some classic Elvis rock’n’roll melodies, though it is not really memorable.

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Verdict: I am surely in the minority here, given how beloved this Disney animation is amongst adults plus children alike. Sadly, I never really connected with any of the characters, feeling that none of them were appropriately fleshed out enough. The narrative makes a commendable change in portraying a different family structure, displaying two orphaned sisters, of which the oldest needs to take charge and care for the youngest. That said, the plot is too crowded, unable to balance its sci-fi side arcs with the family drama. Themes of identity crisis, as well as alienation, are well interwoven. The dialogue is simple, but natural. The cinematography is solid, making use of good angles, plus strong colours. The animation is hit and miss, oversimplifying much. I always thought that Lilo & Stitch was a wasted opportunity, given its potential. I’ll give it a passable 6.0 out of 10.

What do you think? Do you agree with my review, or do you have a different opinion? Let me know by leaving a comment below. As always, thank you for reading! If you like the content, don’t forget to subscribe & share.