Finally, a genuinely appealing Disney live-action remake. So far, these reimaginings of classic animated films have been a mixed bag of uncanny photorealistic computer-generated animals (鈥淭he Lion King鈥�), surreal fairy-tale hellscapes (鈥淏eauty and the Beast,鈥� 鈥淪now White鈥�), scary circus movies (鈥淧inocchio鈥�), and wobbly adventure musicals (鈥淎laddin鈥�).
In their ambitious scale and scope, none evoked the charm of the beloved original animated films. But the new remake of 鈥淟ilo & Stitch鈥� sings with heart and humor, maintaining the aloha spirit of the original.
Director Dean Fleischer Camp, who was Oscar nominated for his quirky charmer 鈥淢arcel the Shell with Shoes On,鈥� a film that blended animation and live-action, is the perfect choice to shepherd the new iteration of 鈥淟ilo & Stitch,鈥� and not just because the film combines animated characters with human actors. In updating the much-loved and lauded 2002 film, Fleischer Camp maintains what charmed us while delivering a truly touching update on the material.
The contemporary setting and grounded realism of the issues our characters face helps situate 鈥淟ilo & Stitch鈥� in a different tonal register than its live-action remake predecessors. It鈥檚 a wacky family critter comedy in the vein of 鈥淐lifford the Big Red Dog,鈥� 鈥淏eethoven鈥� or 鈥淗arry and the Hendersons,鈥� and incorporates this unique creature into a world that鈥檚 real and recognizable, rather than uncannily manipulated. While it is a film about an adorable, destructive alien crash-landing in Hawaii and posing as a dog in order to evade extraterrestrial authorities, the world in which Stitch finds himself has high stakes and palpable emotion in the lessons he learns from from his rescuer, Lilo (Maia Kealoha).
Teaching Stitch about family and friendship is important to Lilo because her own family is in a precarious situation. She鈥檚 recently been orphaned, along with her older sister Nani (Sydney Agudong) who is struggling to hold down a job and hold their little family together, while deferring her own dreams of college and keeping nagging social workers at bay. The feral but resourceful Lilo struggles to make friends, and wishes for a companion on a shooting star. Her wish comes true in the form of a gleefully chaotic fuzzy blue creature who is the combination of a rambunctious toddler, puppy and koala, with a toothy grin, deadly claws and an irresistible butt wiggle. She names him Stitch.
Writers Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes deepen the real-world issues in order to develop the high stakes of Lilo and Nani鈥檚 story, but the plot and sentiment remain the same. They shuffle and rejigger a few of the supporting characters, and pay tribute to the original with roles for Tia Carrere, Jason Scott Lee and Amy Hill, who all provided voices for that film. Chris Sanders, who co-wrote and directed the animated 鈥淟ilo & Stitch,鈥� reprises his role as the voice of Stitch, and he remains as goofy and growly as ever.
The dangerously cute Stitch is well-integrated into this world, and he feels real and tactile even in his new form, and familiar in his physicality and predilections. Opposite Stitch are two discoveries in the form of Kealoha and Agudong. The spunky Kealoha is the perfect Lilo, and she delivers a terrific performance that showcases Lilo鈥檚 fierce independence and loving nature; her wild streak and her wisdom beyond her years. Agudong has to carry the more serious issues of the film, including things like navigating guardianship, employment issues, education, health insurance, and even possible foster care (not something you expect to see in a Disney movie about a pet alien). They are often at odds, but when the sisters come together, there鈥檚 a true tenderness between the two actresses.
Fleischer Camp balances these quieter, more moving moments with the slapstick comedy of the alien tourists: Stitch, and Agent Pleakley (Billy Magnussen) and Jumba (Zach Galifianakis), who have been sent to Earth in pursuit of Stitch after he escapes the Galactic Federation. If there鈥檚 any quibbles to be had with the film, it鈥檚 in the somewhat muddled writing of Jumba鈥檚 character, who has been reworked from the original. Magnussen is a dizzy, ditzy treat as human researcher and enthusiast Pleakley, just happy to be there. Courtney B. Vance is also a welcome presence as Cobra Bubbles.
The film zips by at a pleasantly breakneck pace, never overstaying, lingering just long enough in the emotional moments to draw a tear or two. The messages of 鈥淟ilo & Stitch鈥� 鈥� about ohana, family sticking together, and that there鈥檚 a difference between 鈥渂eing bad鈥� and 鈥渄oing bad things鈥� 鈥� are just as meaningful as they were over 20 years ago. They may be pitched at a child鈥檚 level, but those are lessons we could be reminded of at any age. Like shave ice on a hot day, this new 鈥淟ilo & Stitch鈥� is an utterly refreshing delight.