As a Disney kid, Lilo & Stitch was slightly beyond my era. I grew up watching The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame – Disney’s Renaissance era classics.
A fresh perspective on a fan favourite
By the time the fluffy blue alien arrived in 2002 (dubbed Disney’s post-Renaissance era), I was 12 and had moved on to other interests beyond what Disney was serving up. Mainly Pokémon and Digimon. Ahh it really was a simpler time.
So I’m coming to Disney’s latest live-action remake from a very different perspective. While many are watching this new version fuelled by nostalgia, I’m not. The question is: does this remake soar like The Jungle Book, or stumble like a certain recent Disney princess?
Stitch, an extraterrestrial mischief-maker, crash-lands on Earth after breaking out of prison and ends up pretending to be a dog. Things take a turn when Lilo adopts him from an animal shelter.
All in all, Lilo & Stitch is a sweet, sentimental family film about the value of friendship and family. While it touches on some darker themes, it keeps things light enough to earn a U rating from the BBFC – something many live-action remakes don’t manage. Live-action tends to naturally darken the tone, but this one mostly avoids that pitfall.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Hawaii, we’re introduced to our human characters – but not before meeting the titular alien, Experiment 626, on the planet Turo. We don’t spend long there, just enough to introduce Stitch and a few supporting characters who crop up later in the story.
Back on Earth, we meet live-action Lilo (played by Maia Kealoha) and her sister and legal guardian, Nani, portrayed wonderfully by Sydney Elizabeth Agudong. 7-year-old Maia Kealoha really is brilliant, and I’m sure will have a bright future ahead of her in the industry. Sadly, the side characters don’t leave much of an impression, but the cast is overall engaging and well-placed.
Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen provide most of the comic relief as two aliens disguised in human bodies, hunting for Stitch with an assortment of cosmic blasters and tools.
Stitch shines, but others fall flat
Of course, the real heart of the series has always been Stitch, and his leap to live-action is beautifully handled. His fur, movements, and expressive dark eyes all pay tribute to the original animation, while fitting seamlessly into a live-action world.
It’s a shame, then, that the other alien characters don’t receive the same treatment. With their plasticky, Play-Dough-like appearance, they jar against the otherwise grounded visuals. This likely comes down to their humanoid designs, which are harder to sell than Stitch’s more animalistic form – but it’s disappointing that the same care wasn’t extended across the board.
Story-wise, this version is ideal for young children – engaging enough to hold their attention, while delivering the kind of heartfelt message that good family films thrive on. At the sold-out screening I attended, little ones were glued to their seats (for the most part).
In the end, the live-action Lilo & Stitch is a pleasant, easy-going film with a decent sense of humour and likeable characters. The CGI stumbles here and there – especially given its reported $100 million budget – but as a couple of hours’ entertainment with the kids, you could certainly do worse.
