As a millennial, the bar was set high for the Lilo & Stitch live action remake because the original is one of my top 5 Disney films, I'm happy to report this is a reimagining done right. It's cute, fluffy, heartfelt, and just what we need at the movies.
Lilo and Stitch Review
If there is one thing that will get me teary eyed it's Stitch saying “This is my family. I found it, all on my own. It's little, and broken, but still good.” Making me a little teary just thinking about it if I'm being honest. Disney has been on a quest to remake several of their classic films, but Lilo & Stitch marks their first foray into their 2000s catalogue. Lilo & Stitch instantly became a hit with kids of all ages when it first debuted in 2002. From there we got 5 movies (this one would be the sixth) and a hit animated series about Stitch's cousins. (I still wish Disney would make a Pokemon Go game but for Stitch's family.) With such a strong foundation and a devoted fanbase, the bar was high for this remake. Perhaps higher than any of the others. This is Stitch we are talking about. Fortunately, this version of Lilo and Stitch isn't trying to outdo its source material or just rehash it word for word. It delivers the greatest hits but strengthens the emotional core of the sisters' relationship, for a heartwarming and fun night at the movies.
It begins almost shot-for-shot, which seems to be the typical for these films. However, it soon evolves and adds its own unique twist and framing of key events and relationships. Director Dean Fleischer Camp, co-creator of Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, was the ideal choice for helming this film (only because Chris Sanders wasn't doing it). He, along with screenwriters Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Wae, know how to capture the heart with the silly fun this franchise is known for. They change enough of the story to distinguish it from the original without making it unrecognizable. Starring Maia Kealoha as Lilo, Sydney Agudong as Nani, and Chris Sanders returning as the voice of Stitch, Lilo & Stitch is the kind of movie parents, kids, and longtime fans are going to love.
I cannot say enough about how great Maia Kealoha is in this film. Lilo is a quirky, tough, sensitive, and sometimes angry 6 year old. Finding a child actor who can pull all that off convincingly sounds hard enough without adding the fact she needs to do a lot of this opposite a CGI alien. She lights up the screen with her energy, charm, and her connections with Agudong and Stitch are strong and believable. Kealoha also gives it her all when the more emotional sequence towards the end makes Lilo a sobbing, runny nose mess. Agudong's Nani gets more to do this time around, which strengthens the core story about the sisters, making you root for them even more than you have before. The bond between the two actresses is so strong it feels especially heartbreaking watching as they might be ripped from each other after already suffering so much loss.
Sanders effortlessly steps back into his role as Experiment 626. Giving our favorite destructive, koala-dog-six-legged alien all the rudeness, lovability, and humor we could ask for. He also looks amazing in live-action. Just so so adorable despite all the chaos. I never wanted him to be real and something I could hangout with more. As far as Pleakley (Billy Magnussen) and Jumba Jookiba (Zach Galifianakis) are concerned, their CGI is decent. We don't get them dressed in human clothes, and yes I am part of the camp that wishes Pleakley was in drag, but we do get a great physical performance from Magnussen who is clearly having a blast. He may not have on a dress and a bad bob wig but he does rock a crochet mesh shirt with a giant flower on it. If there is a weak link in the film it's Galifianakis. He is decent as Jumba but is missing the theatrics that made him an equally standout alien character in the original.
Two of the changes to the script involved the creation of characters played by actresses Tia Carrere and Amy Hill, who voiced Nani and Mrs. Hasagawa in the 2002 film. Carrere is the social worker assigned to Nani and Lilo's case before Agent Cobra Bubbles (Courtney B. Vance) shows up. Bubbles is actually still working for the CIA and is only there to find Stitch. He's left with little to do in the story but I hope if we get another film, Bubbles gets his time to shine. Back to Carrere and Hill – who plays Tūtū, the grandmother of David (Kaipo Dudoit) and the sisters' biggest support – these two further strengthen the emotional core of this new story. Despite the more direct tackling of grief and the reality of their separation, this Lilo & Stitch, just like its predecessor, knows how to keep the plot from getting too dark or depressing to handle.
Verdict
I was a kid when the animated version of Lilo & Stitch hit theaters and I remember falling instantly in love with that blue agent of chaos and the world he lived in. Fast forward and I still feel the same. Lilo & Stitch was everything I wanted it to be. It had all the moments that make me laugh (or cry) while also adding fresh sequences that will likely earn their own spaces in your Disney movie memory bank. It's as cute, fluffy, and fun as Stitch himself while also never forgetting that this mischievous little creature helped two grieving sisters find their way forward in their new reality. Rebuilding their Ohana into something that may look a little different but is still good. So yeah, bring tissues, you're going to need them.
Lilo & Stitch is in theaters May 23. It is rated PG for action, peril, and thematic elements with a runtime of 1 hour 48 minutes.
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