Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
Another Disney live action remake is in the books. How does the little blue alien’s outing fare? Lilo and her sister Nani live alone after the passing of their parents. Nani is working to make ends meet by taking care of her sister while juggling her own ambitions. Lilo has difficulty making friends and regularly gets into trouble. But when a fuzzy blue alien crash lands near their home, Lilo finally finds a friend. Her and Stitch must avoid causing trouble while also evading a group of aliens intent on catching the little blue terror. Throughout their journey together, Lilo, Nani, and Stitch all learn about the power of connection and the importance of family.
Positives:
The original film was never a favorite of mine. But after giving it a fresh rewatch, the story has some undeniable heart. “Lilo & Stitch’s” remake has some surprisingly heartfelt moments within its story that make it one of the better Disney live action remakes. The story does a nice job at keeping most of the classic scenes intact while exploring new avenues to make the live action retelling worthwhile. There are a few notable areas where the remake outdoes the original. The best improvement would be the relationship between Nani and Lilo. Their sisterly dynamic was heartfelt and genuine. I could feel the chemistry these two had when they would go through the highs and lows together. It was a wonderful balance of sentiment and love, elevating the smaller details that the original wasn’t able to cover. I also enjoyed the surrounding characters that Lilo and Nani encounter throughout the film. Their neighbors play an integral role this time around, elevating the idea of finding Ohana in places we might not expect.
Stitch is the part of the movie that held everything together. I’m happy to say his promotion to live action is a slam dunk. The CGI used to create him is seamless. His fuzzy blue texture combined with his classic rambunctious personality couldn’t have been better. The filmmakers leaned into the dog disguise this time around, making for some hilarious interactions between Stitch and the locals. Chris Sanders returns to voice Stich, giving him the same squeaky giggle and gibberish that he’s known for. Stitch’s relationship with Lilo is also very important to the story. While it doesn’t follow the original template to a tee, it gives audiences some fresh mischief between the two. The wedding scene and rescue at the end were two changes that were fresh and fun. I thought Stitch’s journey to counter his destructive tendencies was stronger here. He seems to realize the repercussions in a real life setting as he grows closer to Lilo. The music is also strong, much like the original. Whether Lilo be blasting an Elvis record or embracing the beautiful Hawaiian music, it all puts audiences in a good mood. This may be a controversial take…but I believe the ending works well. It allows each character to get the best possible opportunity, confronting the real world limitations of Nani trying to juggle motherhood and her own future. I won’t spoil how but the solution is heartfelt and still maintains the idea of Ohana.
Negatives:
For my liking, “Lilo & Stitch” exceeded my expectations and is a heartfelt family film. Since the original isn’t as personal to me as it is to some, the changes to the story didn’t bother me as much. I will admit there are a few areas where the original is stronger. The biggest removal from this story (the ugly ducking scene) is a crucial part to Stitch’s development. The filmmakers try their best to work around it but the new explanation isn’t quite as strong. Still, Stitch’s arc is heartfelt and emotional by the end. The removal of Captain Gantu will likely frustrate audiences. In doing so, the story takes some different avenues to make Jumba more of an antagonist. Pleakley is on par with his portrayal in the original which is good. Some might not enjoy Jumba and Pleakley’s human disguises rather than the silly coverup in human clothing in the original. I believe this works fine as the live action retelling fits the new disguise better. The pacing gets frantic at times, not allowing some of the classic moments to hit as hard as the original. They’re still there but if the filmmakers slowed down the story then it could have been stronger.
Conclusion:
To my surprise, “Lilo & Stitch” is one of Disney’s strongest live action remakes. It wonderfully combines the great characters of the original into a sentimental story about finding family in unexpected places. The sister dynamic between Lilo and Nani is strong, where both actresses convey the love they share for one another despite having difficulties adjusting to their new reality. But Stitch is the glue that holds this story together! His transition to live action is outstanding, being as cute and spazzy as ever. I really felt the emotional aspects of the story this time around. Although there are some changes to the story that don’t always work, it always manages to find its footing. Being that the original film isn’t as close to me as other Disney classics, the changes didn’t bother me as much. This is absolutely one where families will want to round up the whole crew and go see Stitch cause his signature mayhem on the big screen. A feel good movie through and through!
