Disney’s insatiable quest to mine its own IP continues with this live-action remake of an animated film that premiered a mere 23 years ago.
Creatively, there’s no real reason for this version of Lilo & Stitch to exist, especially since the film’s version of Stitch is necessarily animated as well.
That’s where we’re introduced to Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders, reprising his role from the original), a destruction-loving, genetically engineered creature created by mad scientist Dr. Jumba Jookiba (Zach Galifianakis).
For adults, a little of the visual chaos will go a long way, with Lilo, cute as he is, not exactly E.T.
In both incarnations, Lilo & Stitch is not in the first rank of Disney family films, as evidenced by the fact that this remake was originally slated to go direct-to-streaming.
This live-action reimagining of an animated movie that debuted just 23 years ago is part of Disney’s never-ending quest to exploit its own intellectual property. However, that’s enough time to appeal to the nostalgia of people who grew up watching not just the original film but also its three direct-to-video sequels and three television shows, as well as to create a new generation of potential fans.
Since the film’s version of Stitch must also be animated, there isn’t really a creative reason for this Lilo and Stitch to exist. However, if Trump’s tariffs don’t stop toy stores from stocking the plush toy version that will be on many kids’ Santa wish lists, that’s a completely different story from a business standpoint.
Following in the footsteps of celebrated independent filmmakers (Marcel the Shell With Shoes On) making the transition to the big-budget world (this film reportedly cost $100 million), Dean Fleischer Camp’s live-action Lilo & Stitch is both faithful to the original to satisfy traditionalists and slightly altered to feel somewhat new. Most notably, the relationship between Lilo (Maia Kealoha), a six-year-old Hawaiian orphan, and her older sister Nani (Sydney Elizabeth Agudong), who is fighting to keep her guardianship in the face of Lilo’s disobedient behavior and financial difficulties, is becoming more emotionally invested.
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The opening sequence of the film, which takes place on a planet governed by the United Galactic Federation and its head, the Grand Councilwoman (played by Hannah Waddingham, who is equally formidable in animated form as she is in real life), features the kind of unattractive computer-generated imagery that makes you wish the human actors would show up. There, we meet Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders, reprising his role from the original), a genetically modified, destruction-loving monster created by Dr. Jumba Jookiba (Zach Galifianakis), a mad scientist.
Threatened with exile, Stitch escapes and ends up on Earth, specifically in Hawaii, where Jumba and Agent Pleakley (Billy Magnussen), who is tasked with chaperoning him, are after him. As their characters clumsily adjust to their new bodies, the two actors have the chance to demonstrate their considerable physical comedy skills when they manage to transform into humans shortly after arriving.
The koala-like, extremely blue Stitch, on the other hand, ends up in an animal shelter where he is unexpectedly misidentified as a dog (one of the film’s recurring jokes) and is taken in by Lilo. Due in part to the latter’s tendency to cause trouble wherever he goes, the young girl and the cute but boisterous creature have a difficult beginning. However, their relationship only gets stronger as she teaches him that, wait for it, “Ohana means family.”. “”.
The film has enough crazy scenes, fast-paced chases, and perilous situations throughout to make it 108 minutes long instead of the lively 85 minutes of the original. A little visual chaos will go a long way for adults, even though Lilo isn’t exactly E despite his cuteness. T. concerning appeal.
The many shout-outs, such as the supporting roles of Jason Scott Lee, who voiced Nani’s surfer friend David (played by Kaipo Dudoit), and Tia Carrere, who voiced Nani in the original, will be appreciated by viewers who were weaned off of the original movie. However, younger viewers should enjoy it thoroughly. Additionally, there are a number of new characters, including Cobra Bubbles (Courtney B. Pierce) and David’s feisty grandmother (an entertaining Amy Hill, another franchise veteran). A federal agent named Vance is trying to find Stitch. In addition, the character’s name is a reference to the original social worker. ().
Lilo & Stitch is not among the top Disney family movies in either of its iterations, as shown by the fact that this remake was initially planned to be released directly to streaming services. That shouldn’t really matter, though, as this version is probably going to do well at the box office at the beginning of the hectic summer months.
