Funny, Cute, Family-Friendly

Rating: 7/10 (22 June 2002)

This is one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time, and the best Disney movie since ALADDIN. There's plenty here for the kids, but it gets a PG for good reasons, so parents, accompany your kids for this. And don't be surprised if you laugh, too, maybe harder than your kids do.
Lilo is a tempermental 5-year-old being raised by her big sister Nani, who is constantly trying to keep social workers at bay and hang on to her job. Stitch is Experiment 626, a genetically-engineered destruction machine, bent on wreaking havoc and terrorizing big cities. Thank goodness he lands on Kawai, a small island with small cities, and there is adopted by Lilo from the local animal shelter (he makes himself look like a dog). The two bond instantly in much the same way toddlers bond into holy terrors when left alone together in playtime. But along the way, Disney's familiar lessons of family triumphing over all play out in interesting and fun ways that your kids will love and you will even find yourself smiling knowingly over. There are too many clever allusions here to list: MIB, Godzilla, tacky Polynesian tourist shows, Jaws, extreme surfers, and Blue Hawaii jump right out from the start and make things fun along the way.
This is the movie that with virtually no hype beat out MINORITY REPORT at the box office on Friday, 21 June, and with good reason. It's a better film. Go see it.