To this day, Disney’s Lilo & Stitch remains one of their best animated films. Now, for better or worse, it has been given the live action treatment like all of their other properties. The film follows Lilo (Maia Kealoha), a young Hawaiian girl who befriends Stitch, an alien on the run who helps mend Lilo’s broken family.
One of Disney’s biggest struggles with their live action adaptations is wrestling with whether to change anything and if so, what to change. With Lilo & Stitch, they’ve struck a great middle-ground in terms of what to keep and what to update, leading to one of their better live action adaptations. Although the issue remains that even the best of these adaptations lack the magic and child-like wonder that made the originals so special. There’s major pros and cons when it comes to grounding this narrative in live action. On one hand it adds a more realistic, human element to the film, fleshing out Lilo and Nani’s living situation and the lingering strains in their relationship. The animated film already executed that quite well, but this does bring a little more authenticity to that aspect of the story. The negative effect of grounding it in reality is that the chaotic alien hijinks and wild action sequences are subdued and smaller in scale. I understand the reasoning behind the changes, but those elements are where a lot of the awe and magic of the story stems from.
The alien content may not be as impactful, but the human-level story is where this adaptation excels. Lilo and Nani’s connection is the heart and soul of the narrative – right off the bat you feel for these characters and sympathise, or even empathise, with what they’re going through. The emotional crux of the film is retained and enhanced here, benefiting from the performances at the forefront.
That brings us to Maia Kealoha, who makes her acting debut as Lilo, and Sydney Agudong, who lands her first big acting gig as Nani. Tracking down Kealoha must have been like finding a needle in a haystack, but the important thing is they found her. She perfectly matches the charm and charisma of Lilo, demonstrating all of the characteristics that make the character so memorable. Her cheeky grin and child-like mischief shines through, making her a great protagonist to follow. Agudong’s responsibility is in bringing the emotional weight that Kealoha may not be able to hit just yet, and she nails it. Not only does she strengthen their relationship with an emotionally resonate performance, but she also adds to the comedic elements where needed.
The narrative of Lilo & Stitch is a crazy one, with the original making full use of its animated medium to go wild with crazy scenarios involving aliens in the wild. The chaotic nature of the story paves the way for thrilling chase sequences in alien spaceships and fast-paced action-adventure moments. With the switch to live action, those imagination-enriching sequences are either absent or stripped back, and it just removes some of the excitement. To someone who has never experienced the animated film before, the action may seem like enough, but as someone who was hoping to chase the high that that film brings, it is a let-down. That’s not to say it’s void of fun sequences. Stitch gets into all sorts of dangerous situations in his attempts to avoid the aliens after him, and those moments are quite pleasing.
Another aspect of the original that is thankfully retained is the soundtrack, including both the iconic original songs and Elvis‘ greatest hits. There’s something about the feel-good vibe of the music that is ingrained in the identity of the narrative. This faithful inclusion helps maintain and strengthen the moments of heart and joy that Lilo experiences on her journey.
Outside of Lilo and Nani’s casting, the rest of the ensemble is quite strong, with one glaring misstep. Kaipo Dudoit is tasked with bringing David to life, and he embodies the look and vibe of the character. Granted he only has a moment or two to shine, but he nails the caring attitude and romantic charm of the character. I don’t think enough people talk about Billy Magnussen – he may not often be the lead, but he’s always a valuable part of any ensemble. Here he plays Pleakley, and he does such a great job at nailing the nervy, timid nature of the character that it’s like he leapt right out of the animation. He’s also responsible for a good chunk of the comedic hijinks, and delivers in every moment. Unfortunately I can’t say the same about his companion in Zach Galifianakis. His Jumba felt a bit too like Galifianakis being himself, lacking personality and intrigue in some of the film’s biggest moments.
In the end, Lilo & Stitch is a good time but I really wish it was a great time. They’ve faithfully replicated the heart and tone of the original film, bringing the story over to a live-action environment where Lilo and Nani’s relationship thrives. However much of the film’s wild side is lost in an attempt to ground the adventure a little more, leading to sporadic action/adventure sequences that lack impact. With some good laughs along the way and solid casting, this is an adaptation that effectively appeals to a wider audience of kids and adults, regardless of familiarity with the animated film. However as is the case with all of their live-action adaptations… just go watch the original.
6.2/10
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