LILO AND STITCH

The movie may have its charms, but the thought of an evil little alien landing Lilo in foster care puts knots in my stomach every time.

I never could figure Lilo & Stitch out. It should be the heartwarming tale of a little girl who mistakenly adopts an alien instead of a dog, but instead it's all rather depressing. Worst of all, Stitch is essentially a horrible, nasty little being. Where's the Disney in that?

Lilo is a lonely little Hawaiian girl who lives with her older sister Nani following the death of their parents. She has trouble getting along with children her own age, and finds the greatest solace in her Elvis records. Indeed, life at home isn't exactly happy these days. Nani often seems stressed or cross, and a particularly nosy social worker isn't certain that she's a competent guardian. After losing their parents, will the girls now lose each other?

In an effort to prove that she can turn things around, Nani takes Lilo to a shelter to adopt a dog. She hopes the new pet will offer Lilo companionship and that the new focus will teach her responsibility, but she certainly never imagines that her sister will select a bizarre-looking genetic experiment on the lamb from another planet. It seems that Stitch is far too crafty and aggressive to be left to his own devices, and leaders from his home planet believe that the world is not safe with him on the loose. How unsettling then, that a sad little girl is trying to drag this creepy little monster into bed with her.

Life with Stitch is difficult from the start, but Lilo remains undaunted. Perhaps Lilo relates to Stitch's complex personality, because there is little to explain her undying devotion to this prickly creature who causes endless trouble for her tiny family. Even when Stitch costs Nani her job, Lilo remains loyal to her new friend, attempting to teach him to hula, surf, and generally be more like Elvis.

Ultimately Lilo's loyalty pays off, and in true Disney fashion, Stitch changes his ways. Nani and Lilo get to stay together, and Stitch even gets to join their little "ohana" (family). It's a sweet ending to a rather nerve-jangling journey. The movie may have its charms, but the thought of an evil little alien landing Lilo in foster care puts knots in my stomach every time.

DVD NOTES

The 2-Disc Big Wave Edition is rife with extra features, including audio commentary, music videos, interactive games, and making-of featurettes. You can learn the hula, tour the Hawaiian islands, check out theatrical teasers for other Disney films, or follow Stitch through the Disney years with "A Stitch In Time". Disc 2 contains a lengthy making-of documentary (with its own chapters and footnotes!) as well as deleted scenes and early versions.