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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, September 1, 2003

'Stitch!' back with more island mischief

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

"Stitch! The Movie," just out on DVD and video, is more of a preview of the fall TV series (due on the Disney Channel and ABC Kids) than a sequel to the hit set-in-Hawai'i animated feature.

The rascal of the title is back, of course, with more beloved mischief and troubling encounters with his owner-sidekick, Lilo. For the most part, the revisit retains the original cast (voices), the Hawai'i locales, and even maintains the lingo of Hawai'i, offering a refresher course on the concept of 'ohana, but tossing in such buzz words and phrases as "hang loose," "whatevah," and "cousin," described as "one big 'ohana (happy family)."

The premise is that if Stitch was Experiment 626, as introduced in the original film, what happened to the other 625? Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders, the project's co-writer and director) encounters a couple of "cousins," such as Experiment 221, Sparky, who can cause power outages; and Experiment 625, who is the closest to Stitch in looks and traits, whose gift is making sandwiches. Lots more are destined to emerge on "Lilo & Stitch: The Series" on the tube shortly.

Lilo (voiced by Daveigh Chase) and her older sister and guardian Nani (Tia Carrere) still have a see-sawing relationship, with the former giving the latter ample grief and worries. Cobra Bubbles (Ving Rhames) still is on duty as the social worker (they really should have named him Tiny, as in Tiny Bubbles), and the Laurel and Hardy-like aliens, Jumba (David Ogden Stiers) and Pleakley (Kevin McDonald) provide comic relief. Missing is Jason Scott Lee as the voice of Nani's boyfriend-confidante, David.

Key phrases such as "kama'aina lu'au" are part of the landscape, with the filmmakers attempting to employ — and partially succeeding — Hawaiian diacriticals to signage (see where they're right, as well as wrong).

And while still set in the Islands, the environment this time is more generic tropics than location-specific. There's no denying, though, that the franchise will continue to maintain a Hawai'i tie, with Hawai'i-linked elements such as surfing and hula.

Happily, the sisterly relationship between Lilo and Lani remain powerful and precise in everyday matters. Nani tells Lilo, for instance, "Don't forget to brush your teeth." This kind of subtle give-and-take reflects a domestic tone that fosters learning and life experiences for the young. Also, the concept of extended family — many consider close buddies here "cousins" — is repeated in the relationship between Stitch and his emerging clan of aliens.

The DVD extras are fun, enabling young viewers to play an interactive game of trivia, of finding aliens on the run.

The real gem is the music video of the key tune, "Aloha, E KomoMai," performed by Jump 5 (alas, no Kamehameha Schools keiki this time around). The welcome-to-my-home ditty has quite a nifty uptempo beat, forming a background to a mini-story of Lilo and Stitch frolicking in Hawai'i; it's easy to forgive and forget the nonsense gibberish (which is not Hawaiian) at certain interludes.

If you adored "Lilo & Stitch," you'll find moments of charm and cheer throughout the movie's 64 minutes.

Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, fax 525-8055 or wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.