Disney once again brought another franchise to life with their new live-action Lilo and Stitch adaptation! In the past, Disney created live-action versions of the movies Pete’s Dragon, Peter Pan, and The Jungle Book, so expectations are no doubt high. This movie, originally released in 2002, has been upgraded!
The movie Lilo and Stitch follows a 6-year-old girl named Lilo and is primarily set on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, in the fictional town of Kokaua Town. Lilo lives with her 19-year-old sister Nani, and they both interact with people and things around this town, showing off Hawaiian culture. The two girls suffer their struggles, with Nani struggling to make ends meet and maintain guardianship over her sister while Lilo struggles to put up with bullying from her fellow hula dance partners. Later, as compensation for her sister’s loneliness, Nani takes Lilo to adopt a dog. Stitch disguises himself as a dog and successfully gets adopted by Lilo.
Personally, the representation of the Hawaiian people really touched my heart. It’s not often they are represented, so I was very happy when I heard news of a live-action Lilo and Stitch. The movie showcased the music, homes, and all-around culture, and it’s exciting to see. The casting was perfect, and each person looked similar to the characters whose roles they played. Courtney B. Vance as “Cobra Bubbles” fits well, considering Courtney B. Vance usually plays comedic roles. Seeing him take on a slightly more serious role was interesting, and I enjoyed watching him become “Cobra Bubbles”. Sydney Agudong as “Nani” was a perfect fit because she watched the age of her character well, and both of them give off a protective older sister vibe. This movie was perfect for Maia Kealoha’s debut in acting, and she did an amazing job! Maia Kealoha embodies the happiness, stubbornness, and playfulness that is Lilo. Her ability to act and seem so genuine is perfect, especially since this movie was her first official movie! Speaking of acting, Maia Kealoha and Sydney Agudong have perfect sibling energy. I took it upon myself to watch some “behind the scenes” videos, and their relationship seems very playful and perfect for their roles.
The 3D animation aspects were amazing. Stitch, Wendly Pleakly, and Jumba Jookiba were all very well animated, having the perfect balance of realistic and cartoonish. It’s incredible how the animation team had to make those characters respond to the actors’ movements as if they were actually there. The way Stitch’s fur moves, especially when underwater, looks so real, and I could see just how slimy Wendly Pleakly’s skin was. The actors who played the roles of these characters when they transformed into humans pretended to be aliens so well.
There were also plenty of funny moments in this movie! For example, Amy Hill, who played the role of “TuTu”, Lilo and Nani’s neighbor, could be seen on her four-wheeler throughout the entire.
movie. She drives around wildly, popping up and going random. It was so funny to see her speed off; her blunt, to-the-point dialogue really set the tone for a protective yet free-spirited woman.
Another funny moment comes in the scene when Nani is surprised by the inspector. Mrs. Kekoa is also very funny. When Mrs. Kekoa asked for tea, Nani had none to offer. So, what did she do? She put a Capri Sun in a teacup, warmed it up in the microwave, and gave it to her in the place of tea. The facial reaction of Mrs. Kekoa was priceless! I was thrilled they kept in Lilo showing Nani how Stitch can play music out of his mouth by putting his claw on a recorder.
Though I really enjoyed this entire movie, there were a few aspects that didn’t quite live up to my expectations. Near the end of the film, when Nani gave up Lilo to Tutu, a character wasn’t there in the original story, and it didn’t sit right with me. Instead of simply staying with Lilo, Nani decides to go off to college for an education. While education is important, I can’t see Nani leaving her sister; it doesn’t seem in character at all. I would have loved it if the original story had been carried out. In the original movie, Nani stays by Lilo’s side, they rebuild their house with the help of Wendly Pleakly and Jumba Jookiba, and Nani gets help from the two aliens to maintain a safe, balanced lifestyle. While the characters who were added in, [Tutu and Mrs. Kekoa], fit in well, this was something I could not let go of.
I overall enjoyed this movie and was able to sit through it with a smile on my face. I recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys sci-fi action. Stitch’s voice acting was perfect, adding to the humor, and the 3D animation was equally impressive. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing this childhood movie brought to life.
