‘Lilo and Stitch’ live action is a fun family film

Category: Movies

In 2002 audiences were delighted by the animated film Lilo and Stitch. It became an instant Disney classic as the story of little Lilo and her best friend Stitch became a true Ohana – family. Now the live action version of that story adds to the delight of the original with a new live cast and many enjoyable moments to delight the entire family.

Maia Kealoha is Lilo. She inhabits the character with every cell in her body. This little girl steals the show as she faces life without her parents and no friends.

Lilo’s older sister Nani (Sydney Elizabeth Agudong) has taken on the role of parent to her sister along with being the big sister. Nani finds it difficult to juggle her own life while at the same time looking out for the well-being of her somewhat mischievous little sister.

There are some new characters in this film that were not present in the original story. Amy Hill plays Tutu, Lilo and Nani’s neighbor. Tutu helps the girls when she can. Tia Carrere is Mrs. Kekow, the social worker who wants Nani to keep custody of little Lilo but does not think it is in the little girl’s best interest. After all, Nani is just a teenager herself.

Stitch, experiment 626, escapes his planet and after taking the red police cruiser and going into hyperdrive, crashes in Hawaii. Being pursued by his creator Jumba (Zach Galifianakis) and Pleakley (Billy Magnussen), the agent sent by the Grand Councilwoman to bring back the experiment, little Stitch sees a way to avoid them. He pretends to be a dog and is thereby adopted by Lilo who loves this little fellow. He will be her best friend.

The story is a bit different than the animated version. As Jumba and Pleakley take on human form once they arrive on Earth, sometimes they revert back to their alien bodies. They also bring some alien weapons which are useful – especially in the end of the film.

There is still Elvis music throughout the movie however in this story Lilo does not teach Stitch about Elvis. Instead, the duo learn about each other and as they cause havoc (Stitch a little more than Lilo), the CIA is alerted to the fact that an alien has landed and are on the lookout for anything suspicious. This is where Agent Cobra Bubbles (Courtney B. Vance) comes in.

The movie is filled with memorable moments. There are funny scenes as well as a few emotional scenes that will bring a tear to the eyes of viewers. But even so, the movie is a family story about family, Ohana, and is meant for families to watch together.

By all means, stay for the ending credits. The film is a true delight from the very start to the very end.

Whether you are a Lilo fan or a Stitch fan, or a fan of both, this is a fun take on their original story. Yes, it does have differences, but they provide additional insight into the characters.

Disney does not have a good track record when making live action films based on their classic animated movies, but they definitely did right by Lilo, Stitch, Nani, and the whole gang. This is a great film for young and old, whether you know everything about the first film or not. It is a pure delight. And Maia Kealoha is definitely the star.

Lilo and Stitch is rated PG for action, peril, and thematic elements. The ending, although different from the animated movie, is a happy one and will have audiences rejoicing with the characters.
Aloha.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.