Rating: G
Starring:
Daveigh Chase as Lilo
Chris Sanders as Stitch
Kevin McDonald as Pleakley
David Ogden Stiers as Jumba
Tia Carrere as Nani
Ving Rhames as Cobra Bubbles
Kevin Michael Richardson as Captain Gantu
Zoe Caldwell as Grand Councilwoman
Special Features:
Trivia Challenge
Experiment Finder
Experiment Gallery
Aloha, E Komo Mai Music Video
Other Info:
Widescreen (1.66:1) Enhanced for 16×9 Televisions
DTS 5.1 Digital Surround Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Spanish and French Language Tracks
Running Time: 64 Minutes
Synopsis:
This is the sequel to Disneys movie Lilo And Stitch and it is the lead-in to the upcoming TV series.
A short time after the first film, Stitch, Pleakley, and Jumba have settled into life on Earth. However, fitting into society is another matter entirely. Stitch continues to freak out the locals despite his best efforts to be friendly. He begins to realize that his family members are the only ones who will accept him.
Little does Stitch know, but he has a much bigger family than he ever realized. He is Experiment 626 and the other 625 experiments, or his cousins, have been hidden by Jumba on Earth. The evil Dr. Hamsterwheel hires Captain Gantu to kidnap his former partner, Jumba, and force him to reveal the location of the other experiments. When he is snatched away, Stitch is unable to save his creator. He is, however, able to find his hidden cousins who have been dehydrated into little balls and stored away.
Lilo and Stitch decide that they need help to save Jumba, so they rehydrate one of the cousins. He is Experiment 221, nicknamed Sparky, and he is able to control electricity. He proceeds to break loose and wreak havoc on Kauai. Can Lilo and Stitch get him under control in time to save Jumba? And what will happen if the other experiments escape?
Stitch The Movie is rated G.
The Movie:
Disney continues their tradition of cranking out animated sequels that dont live up to their predecessors. That is the case with Stitch The Movie even though they do a lot right with it. All of the original voice cast returns to their previous roles. The look of the characters is the same and theres still a quirky mix of sci-fi action and humor. However, the sequel isnt nearly as fun as the original. Theres only one Elvis song that opens the film. Lilo isnt quite the oddball that she was in the first film. The animation is TV show quality. Overall, it lacks the heart, soul, and humor of the original. That doesnt mean its a bad movie. It just means you might be disappointed that its not as good as the first. Despite this, if you liked Lilo And Stitch, then you will probably get some enjoyment from this sequel.
This is a setup for the upcoming TV show, and its a nice story for doing so. By introducing the other 625 experiments, that leaves lots of ways for the writers to have fun as Lilo and Stitch go on their quest to round them up and find homes for them. Unfortunately, you only really see two of the experiments in the movie. Most of the time is spent chasing Sparky down while the other one is more or less a background character. A few of the other experiments are shown at the end, but they are obviously being saved for the TV series. Anyone hoping to see more of the experiments will just have to wait for that.
Besides the new Sparky cousin, the only other major new character is Doctor Hamsterwheel. Imagine a small cross between a rabbit, a hamster, and a gerbil, then give him the accent of the Ferocious French Taunter in The Holy Grail (Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!) and you have this character. Hes a pretty ridiculous bad guy and he provides many of the funny moments in this film.
Overall, its a fun movie. Kids will enjoy it and its a great setup for the TV show. However, it still doesnt compare to its predecessor.
The Extras:
There are a few extras on this DVD aimed at younger children:
Trivia Challenge The evil Doctor Hamsterwheel quizzes you about he movie and the upcoming TV series. Seeing as how the TV series hasnt come out yet, its a little hard to answer trivia about it, but oh well!
Experiment Finder Children can search various locations for hiding experiments. Once you discover them, details about the characters are revealed. You must then find new homes for them based on their particular powers.
Experiment Gallery This shows a bunch of the new experiments that you can expect to find in the upcoming TV show. You get a little picture of them as well as a text description. These are identical to a checklist inserted in the DVD case that features them all. Both of them are good references for Lilo and Stitch fans.
Aloha, E Komo Mai Music Video This is the song from the credits sung by Jump5. Its a fun pop tune that kids will enjoy. The video features clips from the film.
I should also note that in the trailers included on this DVD, youll get your first look at a new trailer for Brother Bear and the upcoming Lion King Special Edition. Both feature new footage from the films. The Lion King trailer shows scenes from the new Morning Report musical number as well as games from the DVD, interviews, and more. Its a nice set of previews. And lest I forget, theres a new trailer for the Lilo and Stitch TV series as well.
The Bottom Line:
Kids will love Stitch the Movie. Its required viewing if you plan to watch the Lilo and Stitch TV series. Kids will also enjoy the DVD extras. Adults will find it mildly entertaining while animation fans may be disappointed that it doesnt live up to the original.
