Disney always faces the challenge in his real films: How strong should a story that was once consciously intended as animation are also visually transferred to the real world and a certain truthfulness? The audience split the audience that the king of the lion was placed on a photo-realistic hyper-CGI and the fantastic-reinforced castle should be as tangible as possible in “The beautiful and the beast”. Director Dean Fleischer Camp (“Marcel The Shell With Shoes On”) chooses for his remake of “Lilo & Stitch“A different approach.
After all, the original is one of those classics who also obtain their charm from a certain cartoon logic. Chaos, emotion, silliness and deep -existed side by side. By remaining visible in the live action remake and even violating physical rules, the core of the template skilfully translates into today. Alien experiment Stitch can look strange in the best sense-and that is not a flaw. Because not only visually inspires the interaction of the two title figures. The friendship of Lilo and Stitch develops so much heart in the second half that you forgive the new edition that the film not only needs a bit of a start, but is also tammer compared to the original.
There is also a lot of chaos in the real film remake: the extraterrestrial experiment Stitch (originally spoken by Chris Sanders)!
After the death of her parents, Nani (Sydney Agudong) has to provide her six -year -old sister Lilo (Maia Kealoha), which works more than right. Social worker Mrs. Kekoa (Original Nani Tia Carrere in a supporting role) even threatens to tear apart the family. Only a few more days remain nani to get together, although the rebellious Lilo is no help at all. To make matters worse, this brings nothing more than a friendship to wish to have a blue creature home from the shelter, which quickly causes even more vertebrae.
The soon stitch (spoken again in the English original by Chris Sanders!) Baptized blue fur balls is not a dog, as everyone accepts, but the extraterrestrial experiment 626. That of the crazy alien scientist Dr. Jumba Joookiba (Zach Galifianakis) created as a destructive machine has fled the earth and uses Lilos loneliness to hide in their supposedly safe human home. However, Jumba, together with the agent Pleakley (Billy Magnussen), which was previously only researched, was also sent off to catch Stitch. You are not alone with that. Because CIA agent Cobra Bubbles (Courtney B. Vance) is also on the hunt after finding a crashed spaceship …
First only chaos, then a lot of heart
Especially at the beginning, “Lilo & Stitch” fully relies on rule injury and rebellion. Lilo is not a cute flagship child-she pushes another girl off the stage in a hula demonstration, sneaks into the whirlpool of the luxury hotel and defies any authority. And Stitch, the genetically bred chaos system, is the pure destruction furor in his first appearances. This double anarchy has charm, but uses a bit in the course of the first half. After all, the gags are already similar if Stitch cannot get out of his skin and in the end always breaks something. Only gradually creeps in gradually deep – and that is all the more effective.
The friendship that develops between Lilo and Stitch is wearing the film. Although Stitch deliberately remains a CGI figure, it is extremely integrated into the real world. Leading actress Maia Kealoha plays excellently with the fictional being, which means that both become the emotional center of the film. In any case, Kealoha is an excellent line -up – also because it is not embodied by the nine -malled, annoying child that is often seen in such constellations. She is obviously overwhelmed by her life situation and is so injured by her loneliness that anger and contradiction are her only valve.
Since the death of her parents, Lilo (Maia Kealoha) has met her environment primarily with anger and rejection – until she meets Stitch
However, it is also clear here that “Lilo & Stitch” was somewhat defused compared to the original – possibly because the presentation of conflicts in a real film also has a completely different effect than in an animated narrative. Lilo and Nani only really go to the Gurgel, and the overwhelming sister's overwhelming is more told to us than is really emphatic. Even the aliens are not really a threat over long distances, because “Aladdin” scenery thief Billy Magnussen and “Hangover” star Zach Galifianakis are primarily allowed to walk around how their figures have problems understanding their human camouflage body. Even the Cobra Bubbles (in the original is a later twist) has an authoritarian being, but also visible in the right place.
With the touching and entertaining family film, it is also visibly tried to keep the young target audience in focus beyond. Then only half as many Elvis presley songs sound like in the original. And a western reference begins visually twice that would only understand the adults. Before this is played correctly, another chaotic gag follows, over which the little ones can laugh heartily.
Modern and yet refreshing old school
At the same time, director Fleischer Camp also succeeds in a careful modernization and adaptation to the present day, without this. Tikok and Co. are part of this world without being brought into focus – quite the contrary. “Lilo & Stitch” sometimes has a refreshing old school. This also includes that the first few minutes on an alien room station do not come hyperrealistic, but you still think you are in an animated film at the start.
The focus on figures instead of technology also fits the topic of the film. Because, as with the original, it is about “Ohana”, the big family that everyone can belong – even a few words of growling alien with destruction. And that is a message that we have seen in the cinema many times, but which is well made every time.
Conclusion: “Lilo & Stitch” is a family -friendly, visually charming remake that convinces with the heart and message – but at the same time smoothes a lot of the wildness and friction of the original. Above all, thanks to two strong main characters, the central message about family, belonging and second opportunities also touches in this new version.