MOVIE TITLE:     Lilo and Stitch (live action)

This live-action remake of the popular Disney animation is now playing in theaters.

RATING:     PG

LENGTH: 1 hour 48 minutes

Featured product of today’s movie review:

You can watch the original 2002 movie on Amazon Prime at: https://amzn.to/43zubDZ

IN A NUTSHELL:

When the original animation came out, my kids and I didn’t really get into it.  I don’t know why. The good news is that I enjoyed this one. While critics aren’t impressed, most audiences are loving this remake.

After the recent disastrous release of the live-action remake of Snow White, Disney has created a fun, little gem with Lilo and Stitch. Initially, it was scheduled to be released directly on Disney+, but because audiences loved it so much in early test screenings, the studio decided to give it a worldwide theatrical release.

The film was directed by Dean Fleischer-Camp. The story is about a lonely, rambunctious Hawaiian girl who befriends an exiled alien, helping her to mend her relationship with her sister after their parents recently died.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

• Some bullying
• A girl pushes another girl off a stage during a performance
• Based on the horrified and offended reactions of the aliens, we know that Stitch swears, but it’s in a foreign language so we don’t know exactly what he says.
• Kids will learn not to give dogs candy because it gives them diarrhea.
•  Sooo much destruction.
• Alien weapons are used.
• A lot of Hawaiian words are spoken.

THEMES:

• Family
• Sisterhood
• Friendship
• Acceptance
• Belonging
• Identity
• Losing loved ones

THINGS I LIKED:

• Both the visual and spoken humor are delightful. The jokes fly fast and furiously.
• So many creative aliens in the opening scenes.
• I love that the alien who is an earth expert wears a cowboy hat and leather jacket with fringe. We’re told that Earth is a protected wildlife reserve. Ha ha
• We’re told that “Ohana” means family.  Family means no one gets left behind. That’s what this film is all about and who it’s for.
• Chris Sanders was the writer, director, and creator of the 2002 Lilo & Stitch animated movie. He reprises the voice of Stitch. He juggled voice sessions while making the 2024 movie The Wild Robot.  Be sure to watch my review of that super cute movie!
• The talented cast includes Jason Scott Lee (who voiced David Kawena in the original animation), Billy Magnussen, Zach Galifianakis, Courtney B. Vance, Sydney Agudong, and Hannah Waddingham.
• Tia Carrere did the voice of Nani Pelekai in the original animation of Lilo & Stitch in 2002.  This time, she plays the live-action version of Mrs. Kekoa, a social worker who looks after Lilo and her sister.
• The film has been dedicated to Zoe Caldwell and David Ogden Stiers who voiced the characters of the Grand Council woman and Dr. Jumba Jookiba in the original animated series.
• The film has a lot of heart. You might even get teary-eyed.
• The CGI of Stitch and some other characters is really great and blends easily with the real-life actors.
• We get to spend lots of time in beautiful Hawaii!
• Congratulations to Capri Sun, which gets a serious shout-out and frequent screen time.
• If you loved the original 2002 movie, then you’ll get a kick out of the same scene that plays during the final rolling credits in this film.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

• Lots of yelling and disrespect in Act 1.
• Sometimes, it’s hard to understand what darling little Lilo (Maia Kealoha) says. Lilo is adorable but acts like a complete wild animal and screams a LOT.
• Some older viewers may tire of the constant and chaotic mayhem.
• Die-hard fans of the original movie may be shocked to learn that Gantu, one of the villains of that film, has been cut from this remake.  The director explained that the character didn’t quite work in live-action and he wanted to spend more time on the sisters’ relationship anyway, so deleting the antagonist freed up more screen time for the emotional elements about family. People are funny; they complain if a live-action remake isn’t fresh and new but they also complain when it changes things from the original.
• Some scenes could have easily been removed without negatively affecting the story in order to lower the length of the film. That being said, some of the elements seem rushed and forced.

FUNNY LINES:

•  “What deranged lunatic would create something like this?” – robot
• “Knock it off.  The federation strictly forbids being gross.” – alien guy
• “Are you supposed to be here?” old guy sitting in a hot tub at a hotel   “Uh, I’m here for the convention.” – Lilo (Maia Kealoha)
• “He’s not a puppy, Lilo.  I’m not even sure if he’s a dog.” – Nani  (Sydney Agudong)
• “Sometimes when I run too fast, I fart.” – Lilo (Maia Kealoha)
• “I designed him to be dangerous.” – Dr. Jumba Jookiba (Zach Galiafinakus) “Dangerously cute.” – Pleakley (Billy Magnussen)

INTERESTING LINES:

•  “Your future is in your hands.” – Tutu  (Amy Hill)
• “You’re not bad; you just do bad things sometimes.” – Nani (Sydney Agudong) 

MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU ALSO MIGHT LIKE:

•  Marcel the Shell With Shoes On (by the same director): https://moviereviewmom.com/marcel-the-shell-with-shoes-on-movie-review/
•  E.T. : https://amzn.to/43kP47d
• IF: https://moviereviewmom.com/if-movie-review/

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