‘Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch has a Glitch’ is a charming sequel

Stitch loses control in 'Lilo and Stitch 2: Stitch has a Glitch'
Stitch loses control in ‘Lilo and Stitch 2: Stitch has a Glitch’

Before I sat down to watch Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch has a Glitch, I had to take the time to watch the original film. I wanted to get a sense for the originals of all the characters and how they ended up together. I have to say, this series of film is probably one of the most original things to come out of Disney in years.

Now, technically, Stitch has a Glitch is the third film in this series of movies. Stitch!: The Movie came out in 2003. The reason for the “2” is because this one takes place just a few weeks after the original, and before the events in Stitch! (which was really the “pilot” for the animated series, but got released on DVD). Not to add to the confusion, but there’s going to be yet another sequel in 2006 called, Leroy & Stitch.

Stitch (left) gets reassured that he’s still good by Lilo in 'Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch has a Glitch'
Stitch (left) gets reassured that he’s still good by Lilo in ‘Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch has a Glitch’

Anyway, with that established, lets focus on the movie we’re here to talk about — Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch has a Glitch, which I thought was pretty good. It keeps the tone of the original film, and further develops the relationship between Lilo (voiced in this film by Dakota Fanning) and her alien best friend, Stitch (Chris Sanders). Lilo isn’t your typical Disney character. She’s flawed, sometimes selfish, and very much a child. Stitch is a genetically engineered killing machine that grew to love Lilo and her older sister, Nani (Tia Carrere), and decided to give up his destructive ways.

But as Lilo is obsessed with finding a routine to win a local hula dancing contest, Stitch is beginning to revert to his old ways of mass destruction. According to his creator, an “evil” scientist named Jumba (David Ogden Stiers), a malfunction has affected Stitch, and if its not repaired, could kill him.

Everything about the Lilo and Stitch characters is unique, and I really enjoyed watching this sequel. The outstanding artwork is also some of Disney’s best, with lush tropical scenery in stunning watercolor and slick animation — a mix of traditional and computer work. It’s really the characters that make this sequel entertaining, however, and I can’t praise them enough.


Lilo hangs with Stitch in 'Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch has a Glitch'
Lilo hangs with Stitch in ‘Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch has a Glitch’

I also loved how it incorporated the different Elvis tunes, another original touch that sets this series apart from Disney’s other creations.

The bonus features on this DVD are pretty limited, but fun. There’s an animated short, “The Origin of Stitch”, which reveals why and how Stitch was created. There are also some games, as well as a music video (which the kids might like, but the sugery-sweetness of it gave me a few cavities, so I had to turn it off).

Fans of these characters will most likely enjoy this sequel, and they should. It remains true to the original, without rehashing the same story (not completely, anyway), one of the best compliments I can think to give a sequel.

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