“He’s so cute and fluffy!” –Lilo
Everyone’s favourite chaotic blue alien, Stitch (aka Experiment 626), is back in action in Disney’s latest live-action remake.
For those unfamiliar with the animated version of Lilo & Stitch, the film centres on a young girl named Lilo and her older sister, Nani, who have recently lost their parents. The two are doing the best they can to cope, but with child services involved, Nani must do all she can to make sure she and Lilo aren’t separated. Of course, this is easier said than done, as a bevy of factors, including job insecurity, Lilo locking Nani out of the house when the social worker pays a visit, and a “dog” adoption that caused more chaos than anticipated. I mean, who would ever think they’d accidentally adopt an alien? With an emphasis on Ohana (family), Lilo & Stitch is one of Disney’s most beloved animated films.
The new live-action remake largely follows the same beats as the animated version, starring Maia Kealoha as Lilo, Sydney Agudong as Nani, and Chris Sanders reprises his role as the voice of Stitch. Other characters from the animated version remain, including Agent Cobra Bubbles, played by Courtney B. Vance; Jumba, played by Zach Galifianakis; Pleakley, played by Billy Magnussen; and David, played by Kaipo Dudoit. This live-action iteration introduces new characters to the mix, including Tutu, David’s grandmother and Lilo and Nani’s neighbour, as well as Mrs. Kekoa, a social worker played by Tia Carrere, who voiced Nani in the original animated Lilo & Stitch. I thought this was a nice touch.
The cast was great, especially Kealoha as Lilo, who perfectly embodies everything that fans of the character love. She is adventurous, funny, and stands up for herself against the bullies at her hula class. This might be Kealoha’s first significant role, but she effortlessly exudes so much confidence and energy that you’d think she’s been doing this for decades. In Adugong, Kealoha has an equally effervescent co-star. The chemistry between the pair is fantastic and exudes genuine sibling energy. However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the issue with the casting. Colourism is a real and prominent issue that we unfortunately see regularly in media, and casting an actress who is not only light-skinned but also not Native Hawaiian to play the role of Nani was one of Disney’s biggest mistakes on this project. There were many girls and young women who finally saw themselves reflected in the animated version of the film, and in an instant, some of that was stripped away.
The return of Carrere as an original character for this film was a welcome surprise. Carrere was great as the voice of Nani in the animated version of the movie. Mrs. Kekoa is a social worker who is charged with checking in on Nani and Lilo after the loss of their parents. Carrere is easily believable as the caring figure, doing her best to make sure that Nani and Lilo do not get separated. Carrere is always a joy on-screen, and in Lilo & Stitch, it was no different. In addition to sharing screen time with Kealoha and Adugong, Carrere shares many moments alongside Vance’s Cobra Bubbles. The duo are great together, and Vance is pretty hilarious as the undercover CIA agent.
Carrere was not the only actress playing an original character in the film. Amy Hill playsTūtū, David’s (Kaipo Dudoit) grandmother. They are the Pelekai’s neighbours, and as such, both Tūtū and David have been keeping a watchful eye on Nani and Lilo. The intention behind this was to give a broader meaning to Ohana and to understand that it is something that transcends biological familial bonds. While I love the intent behind this and the necessity for found family, it is something that will either be a hit or a miss for some people by the time the film reaches its finale, based on the changes made to the story from the animated version.
Magnussen was a pleasant surprise as the one-eyed alien, Pleakley. However, Galifiniakis as Jumba was underwhelming. The changes made to the character’s story for this film weren’t great, nor were they written exceptionally well. I think had the character been closer to his animated counterpart in terms of story, Galifiniakis would have been able to bring more to the character. Jumba, being the main antagonist of the story, didn’t elevate the tale in any way. If anything, it was a downside to the film as a whole.
For the most part, while some of the Disney live-action movies have been entertaining (at the very least), they never reach the same levels as their animated counterparts. Firstly, there is more that you can do in animation that you simply can’t in live-action. Still, aside from that, the elements that were the heart of the animated versions never seem to translate to the majority of Disney’s remakes. Probably the best ones were Cinderella and Maleficent. Cinderella thrived under Kenneth Branagh’s direction, and Maleficent succeeded for subverting audience expectations by focusing on the fae’s backstory, something that the live-action Snow White would have probably worked better doing, but I digress.
While it might be something no one asked for (including myself), it is probably one of the better live-action remakes – and yes, I know, the bar has been getting lower and lower. However, what Lilo & Stitch has going for it is the exuberant performance from its lead, and the timelessness of Stitch. Sure, there is a lot to dissect about the film, including major changes to the story and the significant letdown of some casting decisions, but where it shines, it does so brightly. Kealoha is a star, Stitch looked fantastic, and filming the movie on location in Hawaii made a world of difference. Not to mention, the music is just as great as it was in the animated iteration.
While it may not reach the same heights as the animated original, Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch will likely be a hit with the kids and some adults alike.
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