Rating: Country: USA Release Date: June 21, 2002

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Following a successful marketing strategy, Disney's "Lilo & Stitch" roared into theatres this weekend. With just the right blend of comedy and emotion, this film is sure to delight audiences, and reinstate Disney as the leader in children's fare.

Disney films usually focus on characters who are 'different' than the rest, and "Lilo & Stitch" is no different. Lilo (pronounced Lee-low) is a frustrated young girl who lives with her older sister in Hawaii. She doesn't get along with her friends because she does things a little different; she feeds a certain fish in the ocean sandwiches on Tuesdays because she believes it controls the weather; the other girls play with dolls, she makes her own. You get the picture. When Stitch crash-lands on Earth, he is mistaken for a dog and put in the local kennel, where he is adopted by Lilo and her sister. Stitch, who is on the run from a sort of intergalactic 'police,' sees this as his chance to hide out with Lilo. As the two begin to bond, Stitch sees the importance of friends and family, and how strong those bonds can be. "Ohana" (Hawaiian for family) plays a central role here, and would be this summer's "Hakuna Matata" catch-phrase if only they had a catchy song about it. As Stitch learns his place in Lilo's family, he begins to see the importance of Ohana, and his place in the universe.

With a wonderful score by Alan Silvestri, the music throughout the film is very Hawaiian-esque. With the exception of an out-of-place Wynonna cover song over the closing credits, the music fits well, but nothing that sticks with you after you leave the theatre.

The only (and I repeat only) problem I had with the movie came early, before the opening credits. Lilo comes in late to her dance rehearsal, still dripping from swimming in the ocean, and causes the other girls to fall. After the girls tease her, Lilo gets angry and pushes one girl down, jumps on top of her, and begins punching her in the face a few times and biting her on the arm. I'm sorry, but knowing that a few million kids would be seeing this film, what were the producers thinking??? I don't know about you, but I was brought up that you don't punch people, especially people with glasses. You can actually hear the sound effect of Lilo punching her. Personally, I think this could have been changed or left out.

Overall, I think this is a great film, with the exception of the aforementioned scene. The Ohana theme is straightforward enough for children to understand, and the comedy is just right for kids. The underlying jokes for parents are there as well, and Lilo's attempts to get Stitch to imitate her idol Elvis Presley are worth the price of admission alone. Disney had finally returned with a summer blockbuster that's sure to end up being another classic.

Overall Rating: A-