Last night, my husband and I took our kids (Amanda, 7 and Emily, nearly 4) to see Lilo and Stitch, a movie they both very much wanted to see. The previews and commercials had been entertaining, so my husband and I were actually looking forward to the movie as well. How often is a Disney movie advertised with AC/DC playing loudly?

While Emily may have been equally interested in the popcorn she'd be given at the theater, Amanda was very anxious to see the movie so that she could figure out who was who in her extensive collection of Lilo and Stitch Happy Meal toys.

Gotta love the way these movies are promoted...


A brief synopsis...

Lilo and Stitch is an 85 minute animated feature that has something for the entire family. There is an odd, yet extremely cute alien (Stitch), a cuter little girl (Lilo) and a colorful array of supporting characters.

The movie begins on Planet Tura where a fat alien scientist is standing trial for creating a small, slobbering being known as Experiment 626. The foul little creature is banished, but manages to blast off to Earth, landing in Hawaii.

The four-eyed scientist (and that is four eyes, not a glasses-wearer), Jumba (David Ogden Stiers) ends up punished and teamed up with Pleakley (Kevin McDonald) a one-eyed "Earth Expert" who looks an awful lot like a tall, thin Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc.

Jumba and Pleakley are sent to find and capture Experiment 626 who masquerades as a dog and is adopted by Lilo (Daveigh Chase), a sad and lonely orphan. Experiment 626 is given the name Stitch (Chris Sanders) and slowly becomes less revolting and more endearing.

Lilo is the mischievous little sister of Nani (Tia Carrerre) who is also her guardian. Their parents are deceased, Nani has trouble holding a job and has a social worker named Mr. Bubbles on her case. Cobra Bubbles (Ving Rhames) is trying to remove Lilo from her sister's care and seems to show up at all the worst times.

I won't reveal any further story details, but rest assured it is very unique.


For the kids...

Lilo and Stitch does not compare to movies like The Lion King or Beauty and the Beast. There are no Randy Newman tunes to be nominated for Oscars. My kids didn't seem to mind that the animation could not even come close to the beauty of a Disney classic, they were happy with the silliness and the "cute" factor of both Lilo and Stitch.

The Disney Channel has been featuring Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride, a song from the movie, between shows. Emily immediately recognized the familiar song.

My older daughter, Amanda, thoroughly enjoyed the entire movie, laughing out loud frequently. Each time I glanced her way, she was happily watching with a grin on her face. She even shared her popcorn with her sister.

Emily was a bit antsy at times. She seemed amused by some of the sillier moments and was entertained when Lilo played Elvis music, but she actually dozed off about 3/4 through the movie. She awoke the minute the movie was over and loudly declared that she loved the movie and that it was so funny. I guess she meant the parts she was awake through.

Ultimately, both kids gave Lilo and Stitch their seal of approval.


For grownups

As usual, Disney did a great job in keeping parents from being bored stiff by keeping the humor clean, yet often aimed at adults. My husband and I laughed at the familiar bickering between Lilo and her older sister, though Nani was also the "parent" and was someone we could sympathize with.

Lilo is a holy terror, but in the cutest possible way. Parents and kids alike all know a "Lilo" or two. From her candid photos of sunburned tourists to her love of Elvis Presley, you can't help but like her.

There are a few sad moments when Lilo and Nani are struggling and there is actually a message about the importance of family. References to The Ugly Duckling add to the overall lesson in acceptance and love.

Throughout the film, there is a Hawaiian word that is mentioned over and over:

Ohana. Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind.

Yes, there is a heartwarming message, this is Disney, but the story is unlike any other Disney Film. It has some similarities to movies like Men In Black and E.T.. The one-liners and subtle humor kept not only my husband and I, but other parents in the audience...(sorry, I can't help myself)...in stitches.


The voices...(no, not those voices)...

In the past, I have been impressed by the actors cast in various Disney. My favorite was Robin Williams in Aladdin. Though the cast of Lilo and Stitch may not feature such huge names or such distinctive personas, there is a lot of talent here.

Daveigh Chase is so cute as Lilo. Chase's voice suits Lilo. David Ogden Stiers was perfect as Jumba and Ving Rhames was fantastic as Cobra Bubbles. Jason Scott Lee is David, the surfer with the "cool hair" and admirer of Nani.

Chris Sanders not only is a writer/director but also the voice of Stitch. Kind of a mix of E.T. and Donnie from The Wild Thornberrys television show. Some of the exchanges, especially dialogue between the "aliens" is truly hilarious.



What, the kids and the parents agree?

I have always loved everything Disney and have enjoyed the majority of their animated features. Lilo and Stitch, much like The Emperor's New Groove differs from the "Masterpiece" collection titles, but is still very entertaining in its own right.

As far as Disney movies, Lilo and Stitch doesn't stand out as one of the best, but still is a fun flick. Not as funny as Toy Story or as memorable as Aladdin, but definitely still worth seeing.

The story is funny, fast-paced and rather unique. Predictable, but most children's movies are. Even though the story has no really surprising turns, there are a few twists to keep things interesting.

I don't see Lilo and Stitch being nominated for an Oscar, maybe a "Kids' Choice" though. It does mix enough slobber, silliness and aliens to keep kids happy and enough clever lines to please parents.

A fun movie, no doubt about it. Worth seeing in the theater and likely to be added to our video collection in the future.

I never thought I'd recommend taking the kids to a movie that features aliens in animal shelters and many references to Elvis. No, it isn't a headline from the cheesiest tabloid, it's Lilo and Stitch, fun for the family.

Recommended: Yes