‘Lilo & Stitch’ proves sweet, not sappy

With its recent release of “Lilo & Stitch,” the original home of movie animation, Disney, has made its presence felt on the summer movie scene.

The most accomplished animated feature of the season thus far, “Lilo & Stitch” successfully examines the age-old question of “nature or nurture.”

In the film, Lilo is a lonely little Hawaiian girl who lives with her 19-year-old sister-guardian, Nani (voiced by Tia Carrere). Like any siblings, the two orphaned sisters often fight, and no-nonsense social worker Cobra Bubbles (voiced by Ving Rhames) arrives in the middle of one such brouhaha. He gives Nani three days to prove that she’s a fit guardian for Lilo, or the pair will be separated.

That’s when Stitch enters the picture. Stitch is a genetically engineered, alien mayhem machine sentenced to exile by a galactic council. He escapes and lands on Kauai, where he ends up at an animal shelter. Lilo adopts this odd-looking dog. What she doesn’t know is that he’s being pursued by his creator, Jumba Jookiba (voiced by David Ogden Stiers), who’s aided by Earth expert Pleakley (voiced by Kevin McDonald).

When chaos erupts in Stitch’s wake, Lilo tries to teach him how to be a model citizen like her hero, Elvis Presley (must have been from his early years). So the movie seeks to answer whether Stitch can shake off his genetic programming and become a productive member of society.

Disney too often fails to follow Mary Poppins’ dictum about “just a spoonful of sugar.” But “Lilo & Stitch” heeds this warning, falling on the sweet instead of the sappy side.

Also, the movie’s two-dimensional characters have depth to them. Nani is torn between the freedom of being a young adult and the responsibility of being Lilo’s de-facto parent. Mr. Bubbles truly isn’t a villain; he just seeks that which is best for Lilo. Lilo’s loneliness often comes through as aggression, which leads to her being ostracized by her peers. Then she finds herself with the task of channeling pure mischief into something good.

The film’s watercolor-painted backgrounds really succeed in bringing paradise to life. The animation manages to feel both classic and cutting-edge at the same time.

My junior critic really enjoyed this film, especially one expanded production number in which Stitch does his Elvis impression. My toddler critic didn’t buy into this original, nonderivative material as much, as the action didn’t keep him from wandering a bit near the end.

“Lilo & Stitch” should be entertaining for most preteen children. There’s also a fairly well-developed story and some witty asides for adults as well. “Lilo & Stitch” should keep most movie-goers “All Shook Up.”

Dale McGarrigle is the NEWS’ veteran entertainment writer, who does occasional reviews of children’s movies written for families. His 6-year-old daughter Samantha was very excited to hear that new song by A-Teens, “Can’t Help Fallin’ in Love,” over the end credits. His 3-year-old son Benjamin liked trying out the Stitch blasting-ray-gun doll at the toy store best of all.