LILO and STITCH 2: STITCH HAS A GLITCH (2005) – Review

In 2005, Disney was in the midst of its direct-to-VHS era, a time when nearly every animated franchise received a sequel—some even spawning trilogies with two follow-ups. Among this wave of releases, Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch stands out as a shining gem, according to The Film Buff. However, this doesn’t mean he’s finished exploring this era of oft-maligned films or the Lilo & Stitch franchise itself.

Hey, everybody, uh, welcome to another Akapad film review. I’m your host, Akapad, and, uh, today we’re gonna be talking about Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch, uh, a direct-to-DVD sequel from Disney, uh, released in 2005. So, let’s, uh, let’s get right into it.

So, first off, let me, let me set the stage here. Uh, the original Lilo & Stitch from 2002 is, is a beloved classic, right? With, uh, its heartfelt story about family, or, uh, ohana, as they call it, and, and the bond between Lilo, this, uh, quirky Hawaiian girl, and Stitch, this, uh, chaotic alien experiment. It’s, it’s got humor, it’s got heart, it’s got a killer Elvis soundtrack, right? So, naturally, uh, expectations were pretty high for any sequel, especially one that’s going straight to DVD, which, let’s be honest, doesn’t always scream, uh, quality. But, uh, Lilo & Stitch 2 actually, uh, surprised me in a lot of ways, so let’s, let’s break it down.

Uh, the movie picks up, uh, shortly after the first film, uh, before the events of Stitch! The Movie and, uh, the TV series. It’s, it’s kind of an interquel, meaning it, it slots into the timeline between the original and, uh, the other spin-offs. Uh, the setup is pretty simple: Stitch is, uh, living happily with Lilo, Nani, and, uh, the alien crew—Jumba and Pleakley—in, in Hawaii. Uh, Lilo’s preparing for this big, uh, hula competition, uh, inspired by her late mother who, who won it years ago. But then, uh, we get the big twist: Stitch starts glitching. Uh, turns out, when, uh, Jumba created him, he, he didn’t fully charge Stitch’s, uh, molecules or whatever because he got, uh, arrested by the intergalactic cops. So, now, uh, Stitch is malfunctioning, uh, reverting to his destructive programming, and, uh, if they don’t fix him, he, he could die. Uh, heavy stuff for a kids’ movie, right?

So, let’s, let’s talk about what works. Uh, first, the animation. It’s, it’s honestly pretty impressive for a direct-to-DVD release. Uh, the watercolor backgrounds, the, the character designs, they, they stay true to the original’s, uh, vibrant, hand-painted, uh, Hawaiian vibe. It, it doesn’t feel like a cheap cash-in, which is, uh, a big win. Uh, the voice acting is, is solid too. Uh, Chris Sanders is back as Stitch, uh, bringing that perfect mix of, uh, mischief and, and heart. Uh, Dakota Fanning replaces Daveigh Chase as Lilo, and, uh, while I, I kinda missed Chase’s, uh, unique energy, Fanning does a, a decent job capturing Lilo’s, uh, spunk. Uh, the rest of the cast—Tia Carrere as Nani, uh, David Ogden Stiers as Jumba, Kevin McDonald as Pleakley—they’re, they’re all great, though, uh, Pleakley’s cross-dressing gags do feel a bit, uh, dated now.

Uh, the story itself has, has a lot of heart. Uh, the hula competition gives Lilo this, uh, personal goal, uh, tying into her grief over her mom, which, uh, adds some emotional weight. Uh, the idea of Stitch glitching and, and potentially dying, uh, raises the stakes and, and keeps you invested. There’s, uh, this one scene where, uh, Stitch scratches Lilo by accident, and you can, you can feel his guilt and, and her confusion—it’s, uh, it’s surprisingly gut-punching. Uh, the theme of ohana is, is front and center, with, uh, Lilo and Stitch’s bond, uh, tested but, uh, ultimately shining through. It’s, it’s not as deep as the first film, but it’s, it’s got more soul than, uh, most direct-to-DVD sequels.

Now, uh, the downsides. Uh, the plot is a bit predictable, and, uh, at just over an hour, it, it feels a little rushed. Uh, some subplots, like, uh, Nani and David’s romance, uh, kinda go nowhere and, and feel like filler. Uh, the humor isn’t, isn’t as sharp as the original—uh, Pleakley’s bits are, are hit-or-miss, and there’s, there’s not enough of Jumba’s, uh, mad scientist chaos. Uh, also, while the Elvis songs are back, there’s, uh, fewer of them, and, and they don’t hit as hard. Uh, the pacing can be a bit uneven too; uh, the glitch storyline and the hula competition don’t, don’t always mesh smoothly, and, uh, the ending, uh, while emotional, wraps up a little too neatly for, for my taste.

Uh, one thing I, I do wanna highlight is, is how this movie takes risks. It’s, it’s not afraid to get dark—like, uh, Stitch facing mortality is, is intense for a Disney sequel aimed at kids. Uh, it doesn’t shy away from showing Lilo’s frustration or, or Stitch’s fear, and, and that rawness gives it, uh, an edge. But it’s, it’s still accessible, with, uh, enough slapstick and, and cute moments to, to keep younger viewers hooked.

So, uh, how does it stack up? Uh, it’s not as good as the original Lilo & Stitch—uh, few things are—but it’s, it’s one of the better Disney direct-to-DVD sequels out there. It’s, it’s got heart, it’s got decent animation, and, uh, a story that respects the characters. Uh, if you’re a fan of the franchise, it’s, it’s worth a watch, especially if you want more of that, uh, ohana vibe. Uh, I’d give it a solid 7 out of 10. Uh, it’s no classic, but it’s, it’s a fun, emotional ride that, uh, doesn’t disgrace the original.

Uh, that’s it for this review. Uh, if you’ve seen Lilo & Stitch 2, uh, let me know what you think in the comments. Uh, are you a fan of the franchise? Uh, should I review Stitch! The Movie or, or the TV series next? Uh, hit that like button, uh, follow for more reviews, and, uh, I’ll catch you in the next one. This is Akapad, signing off.

PETER A DELUCA AKAPD

AKAPAD is a versatile thinker known across Philadelphia, Europe, and even in the vast Multiverse as The Electic One. By day, he excels as an IT Mastermind, assisting individuals, both big and small, with a wide range of simple and complex solutions. In contrast, he is also a talented illustrator, a passionate comic book enthusiast, a creative content creator, and an active live streamer. Additionally, his podcast, “AKAPAD The Film Buff Podcast,” boasts an impressive catalog of over 500 episodes available on nearly every major platform.