The long wait is over, and Lilo & Stitch is finally in theaters. After an impressive marketing campaign that featured some of the most creative use of tech I have seen thus far, Lilo & Stitch is set to make waves at the box office this Memorial Day weekend.
I always had a soft spot for Stitch, so I was a little nervous about the live-action version. Thankfully, there was nothing to fear, as it exceeded my expectations and has been the cutest movie I’ve seen in a while. Disney has had mixed success with its live-action remakes in the past, but this one has been the best, hands down. Stitch’s rendering is very life-like, which has left me a little heartbroken because I so wish he was real! His lives on social media had me in stitches, pun intended. Chris Sanders, who originally created and voiced Stitch, is also behind the voice of the cute blue alien this time.
However, this movie’s success (and yes, I’m pretty sure it will be very successful) could never be possible without Stitch’s perfect partner. Maia Kealoha as Lilo is absolute perfection. She embodies Lilo’s essence in all aspects, down to her bubbly personality. She is adorable and a natural when acting on the big screen.
Surrounding this fun and chaotic duo are Sydney Agudong as Nani and Kaipo Dudoit as David, who were great in their roles. Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen play Jumba and Pleakley and are fun to watch. Galifianakis’ Jumba is a little meaner than I remember in the original animated film, but that makes the emotional stakes higher, especially for one of the last scenes in the movie. Jason Scott Lee and Tia Carrere, who originally voiced Nani and David in the animated film, are part of the live-action cast as the Lu’au manager and Mrs. Kekoa. Courtney B. Vance rounds out the cast as Cobra Bubbles.
Although I haven’t seen the original animated movie in a very long time, this live-action version seemed to have many scenes and lines I remember. It honors the original, which is very nice. The live-action Lilo & Stitch lives up to the hype behind the major marketing campaign, but most importantly, it lives up to the nostalgia from our childhoods.
Lilo & Stitch is out in theaters now.
