Not one of Disney's great films, but a decent little adventure

Rating: 7/10 (29 July 2009)

This animated Disney flick was released when I was a teenager, several years after I had lost interest in Disney cartoons. I doubt I ever even heard of "Lilo & Stitch" until several years after its theatrical run. I first saw it in late 2006, after reviving my interest in Disney. Even though it's not one of the company's most popular films, I remember loving it at the time! Nearly three years later, I've seen it a second time. I didn't like it nearly as much as I did the first time, nor was I expecting to. Before my second viewing, I was hoping I would be able to give it an 8/10 (didn't think it would be any higher than that this time), which I can't, as it turns out, but at least I can still give it a 7, so I guess it came close to meeting my expectations.
Far from Earth, an evil alien scientist named Dr. Jumba Jookiba is put on trial for illegal genetic experimentation. He has created Experiment 626, a small but aggressive, dangerous, and nearly indestructible creature! The scientist is sentenced to prison, and his creature is to be exiled on an asteroid. However, Experiment 626 manages to escape to Earth, landing in Hawaii! Jumba, along with Agent Pleakley, are sent to capture him. A troubled little girl named Lilo, who has been looked after by her older sister, Nani, since the death of their parents, and doesn't seem to have any friends, lives on the island where the creature has landed. Nani hasn't been doing a very good job looking after her younger sister, and unless she improves soon, social worker Cobra Bubbles will take Lilo to a foster home! The two sisters go to adopt a dog at the animal shelter, where Experiment 626 has ended up. He poses as a dog, and Lilo adopts him and calls him Stitch. As Jumba and Agent Pleakley try to capture him, Stitch causes even more trouble for the sisters, and will make it even harder for them to stay under the same roof!
Early in the story, Lilo can certainly be a pain, doing things like attacking and biting one of her peers! I think the writers went a little too far with her aggressive tendencies! It doesn't help that Nani is also a little over-the-top at times. The conflict between the two sisters could have been done better. Fortunately, despite those problems bringing the movie down, there are still merits. The animation is excellent, with some gorgeous tropical backgrounds, the film may get more entertaining as it goes along, and there are moments of poignancy, often involving Stitch, a very cute character. The second time I watched the film, I was a little disappointed by the humour, but still found some noteworthy gags. I would say the most noteworthy ones (or at least most of them) involve Jumba and Agent Pleakley on Earth, trying the catch Stitch, especially with Pleakley disguised as a woman! Last but not least, "Lilo & Stitch" has a good message about the importance of family. All these things make this 2002 Disney effort watchable. Maybe it's more enjoyable for kids, but it does have enough for adults.