Weekend Screen Scene: Lilo & Stitch

Not longer after the release of the live action Snow White, Disney announced a pause on their live action remakes, but for better or worse, those already made, or in production, will likely see the light of day. Lilo & Stitch is one of them.

I saw and really enjoyed the original Lilo & Stitch back in 2002, but admit it is not a Disney film I ever returned to, so I went into this remake with pretty fresh eyes; I certainly wasn't making constant comparisons to the animated original in my mind. But as I was watching I did begin to question my fond memories of the original, because this new version felt so very, very mild. It's way more of a movie made for kids than one that would appeal to all ages, as the original seemed to. So, yes, I did go back and re-watch the animated version a few days later. And yes, the remake simply pales in comparison.

The character of Stitch is definitely one ripe for CG animation. If kids came away from the original wanting their very own Stitch, they're definitely going to want this legitimately cute and fluffy version. But while Stitch's visual characterizations are damn near perfect, his manic comedic energy is now tailored to simple things kids will find amusing, with far less of the weirdness displayed in the original (Elvis Presley, for instance, is no longer a running gag).

I can't fault anything about Maia Kealoha as Lilo and Sydney Elizebeth Agudong as her sister Nani. They both give amusing and heartfelt performances. Kealoha, in particular, is the kind of child actor I am sure directors dream about: adorable and precocious without feeling like they're mugging for the camera.

To get past the issue of having the two space aliens who are chasing after Stitch look like two space aliens who are chasing after another space alien, this time around, Jumba and Pleakley are able to disguise themselves as actual human beings once they get to Earth. They are played by Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen, respectively, and I wish I could say this comedic duo brings the laughs, but they both just felt flat. I seriously cannot remember laughing at a single moment of their screen time.

The idea that Stitch is an alien-made creation longing for a family is less of a focus this time around. Now the family focus is aimed more at Lilo and Lani, and the threat to separate the two of them. But the introduction of a character not in the original, friendly local Tūtū (Amy Hill) who lives nearby, and is always willing to help, seems like the natural answer to that threat, negating the idea that Lilo and Lani are truly alone. Lilo's story is important, for sure. But Stitch's character arc is just not as touching as it should be, and the film suffers because of it.