Great story-telling and something fresh again from Disney ...

Rating: 9/10 (16 June 2002)

I thought I would LIKE this movie but I loved it! I got to go to a special preview the day before the LA Premiere. The audience was mixed with children and adults of all ages and ethnicity.
The Hawaiian choir was there that performed in the movie as well as lots of Disney employees, Wynonna Judd and the A-Teens, who sang songs from the film.
I have to say that this is the best animated film since Lion King. From the writer of Mulan, this is "based on an idea", and the idea works very well.
The film doesn't rely on the Disney tradition of a song every seven to eight minutes. When they come they fit in, maybe because they are NOT sung by the characters. Whether it is background music from Alan Silvestri, or the beautiful Hawaiian music, it is extremely good and enjoyable.
The story is a mix of sci-fi and a little Hawaiian family trouble with Lilo & Stitch - a young mischevious girl under the care of her older sister and a somewhat cute and dangerous blue fellow from one of the galactic federation planets. When the film gets emotional it has much more impact because of the way that it comes from nowhere. It's not at the end of a refrain or song so it is always not expected.
Adults will love the film as much as kids with several movie references during the piece. A refreshing story with good production from the animators in Florida, I hope we see much more of this type of animated fare.
I think it could be some time before we see this "type of animation" again. It's doesn't take cheap shots like Dreamworks "Shrek" and still entertains everyone. Maybe the folks at Disney will do a sequel direct to theaters instead of video, i.e. Lion King and Aladdin. This film deserves it.