PLOT: A lonely Hawaiian lady befriends a runaway alien, serving to to fix her fragmented household.
REVIEW: With Snow White just lately releasing and completely bombing, Disney is in a bizarre place with its live-action diversifications. As soon as seen as a money cow, there’s a number of hypothesis relating to their future. But when there’s a brand new interpretation of a cartoon that I used to be truly trying ahead to, it was Lilo & Sew. I take up the stance that there are many folks on the market who refuse to observe cartoons. Adapt the story and tweak it so it suits stay motion, however observe the identical script because the cartoon. It’s what all the very best of those Disney movies have managed to do. In the meantime, the worst of them attempt to grow to be one thing else completely. So, the place does Lilo & Sew fall?
It’s going to be arduous to not simply always examine this to the unique, however I suppose that’s what you get relating to these remakes. Lilo & Sew follows a naughty little alien on the run and discovering himself on Earth, on just a little island in Hawaii. He befriends a lonely little lady they usually shortly come to seek out that they want one another greater than they ever realized. The perfect factor about Lilo & Sew is that, regardless of its alien co-star and quite cosmic story beats, this can be a grounded story about household.
The casting of Lilo is so very important because the character is the proper mixture of strong-willed and cussed whereas nonetheless being simple to root for. Maia Kealoha suits effectively into the position and her interactions with Sydney Agudong‘s Nani really nail the sisterly spirit. There’s simply the correct amount of affection and frustration in direction of one another. I had no concept that Tia Carrere can be showing (she voiced Nani within the cartoon) and she or he’s a pleasant bodily illustration of the love and care put into respecting the unique movie. As a result of positive, there are modifications, but it surely all falls according to the spirit of what got here earlier than.
It helps that they introduced again Chris Sanders to voice Sew, actually bridging the gaps between stay motion and animation. He has that excellent tonality and power; this actually does really feel like Sew in each sense. His efficiency is completely captured in stay motion, with it being a bit surreal to see a few of his tics in one thing apart from 2D. The animators must be very proud. Aside from Sew, it’s actually Billy Magnussen‘s Pleakley that steals the show. I know there was some controversy because we didn’t get him in drag, however they make up for it with quite a lot of wacky outfits. And Magnussen is ready to get the voice right down to perfection. One other large enchancment is with Jumba, whom Zach Galifianakis actually breathes new life into. He’s expanded a bit, made into extra of a villain to root for.
Similar to the cartoon, the place Lilo & Sew thrives essentially the most is with its emotional influence. Whether or not it’s the story of Lilo being taken away from Nani by baby providers or Lilo being so lonely on this planet, it’s simple to attach along with her plight. They even give which means to easy throwaways from the unique: Sew’s aversion to water is explored a lot extra. I like that they put some motive behind Sew getting onto the surf board within the first place versus it simply being an over-the-top visible. This occurs all through, with almost each second expanded upon in a significant method.
Dan Romer does a great job creating an analogous vibe to Alan Silvestri’s authentic rating. It actually covers the Hawaiian vibe effectively. As some marks towards it, I actually bought sick of the inexperienced display screen that pops up far an excessive amount of. Appeared like each time they had been on a seaside with a number of solar, they wanted inexperienced display screen for some motive. However actually, that’s all I’ve towards it. Possibly it’s simply the huge Lilo & Sew fan in me, however I had an absolute blast right here. I laughed, I cried, and I felt extra right here than I ever anticipated to. Possibly it’s simply Disney’s historical past with such lifeless diversifications, however this one felt like extra.
I nonetheless bear in mind seeing the unique movie in theaters and have very fond reminiscences of the 2D animation. They had been capable of replace it for stay motion with out stepping on the toes of its cartoon counterpart, resisting the urge to arbitrarily change a ton. Had Disney simply saved making these fashion of stay motion remakes, I don’t suppose they’d be within the state of affairs they presently are. As a result of Lilo & Sew is an effective time on the motion pictures that’s positive to please followers, outdated and new alike. On the cartoon to stay motion entrance, it’s arduous to see Disney topping this.
LILO & STITCH RELEASES TO THEATERS ON MAY 23RD, 2025.
