Some odd choices, but still a charming film

Rating: 7/10 (13 April 2020)

There is a great deal of charm to Lilo & Stitch. I'm always a sucker for movies that celebrate the bonds of family, I have a fascination for movies that take place in Hawaii, and the sci-fi element doesn't hurt either. This is yet another in a never-ending line of Walt Disney films that deal with orphaned children, but I appreciated that this movie explored the real-life struggles that children face when left without parents. I also found Ving Rhames voicing the big burly social worker to be a humorous addition, while maintaining the reality of how these broken family situations can lead to problems keeping the kids together under the same roof. The odd juxtaposition of aliens tracking a runaway monster with this realistic family drama makes this film truly unique. I found most of their bumbling attempts to trap Stitch to be the funniest aspect of the film.
I think where I struggle in accepting the plot structure of Lilo & Stitch is the abruptly shifting behavior of Stitch. First of all, when the doctor establishes what he was designed to do, we are supposed to view this creature as a danger to all life as we know it. Yet his behavior continues to present as merely mischievous. He never seems to desire death and destruction, just general trouble-making. I've seen April Fool's Day jokes that are more dangerous than Stitch. Then it takes relatively little time, and not much correction to turn him into an upstanding member of the family who actively tries to save Lilo's life more than once. My dog isn't even that quick to learn proper behavior, and she's not biologically programmed for evil. All that aside, for what it is, Lilo & Stitch is a high-quality film. It has a lot of heart, and plays on familiar themes in a way that should please audiences of all ages.