Watch the trailer
Written by: Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes (screenplay by), Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois (based on the 2002 animated film 'Lilo & Stitch' animation screenplay by)
Directed by: Dean Fleischer Camp
Starring: Maia Kealoha, Sydney Agudong, Chris Sanders, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Magnussen, Courtney B. Vance, Tia Carrere, Hannah Waddingham
Rated: PG
Plot
A lonely Hawaiian girl befriends a runaway alien, helping to mend her fragmented family.
Verdict
I have an overall issue with all of these live action Disney remakes. Other than being live action, there's nothing new, different, or creative. I'm not interested in movies where the goal is to make money. I want to be entertained. With this, it's difficult to suspend my disbelief of the logic. I don't believe anyone thinks Stitch is a dog. This could take the themes from the original and build on the difficulties of being responsible for someone else; Nani for Lelo and Lelo for Stitch. I spend most of the movie wondering how this differs from the original. The original still exists, and this offers very little new.
It depends.
Review
This is a live action adaptation of the 2002 animated movie, continuing Disney's string of remakes including The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Dumbo, and Aladdin. As with all of these movies, I'm preoccupied with comparing it to the original and wondering which parts were or weren't in the original. All of these remakes make me want to re-watch the original, and maybe that's the point. It screams profit over creativity; a way create a movie with a built in audience that reduces risk.
I have the same complaints about all of Disney's live action remakes. It's a lack of creativity, and it's also difficult to believe the movies as live action has a higher threshold for suspension of disbelief.
The core of this story is a precocious but neglected kid, Lelo (Maia Kealoha). Her sister Nani (Sydney Agudong) tries to balance raising her sister and working to provide for the both of them. It's difficult to believe that the state hasn't already intervened in that situation. We see Lelo push a kid off a stage during a recital. While it was a reaction to being verbally bullied, I'd think several of the parents in the room would have a problem with that.
 |
| Stitch |
Live action typically is more realistic, and that creates an issue with a live action remake based on a cartoon. I don't believe that anyone would mistake Stitch for a dog. With several scenes in this movie it's difficult to suspend my disbelief.
Initially I thought this might stray from the cartoon and focus on the similarities between Nani's frustrations with Lelo and Lelo's frustrations with Stitch. Lelo could have realized the trouble she causes for Nani by experiencing the frustrations Stitch causes her. These remakes aren't created as a new or modern take. It's a straight adaptation, offering very little new. The target has to be the children that grew up on the animated movies that are now adults looking for a nostalgia trip.
Lelo is lonely and just wants a friend. That's when Stitch appears, an odd looking dog that causes lots of trouble. Aliens and the CIA are both after Stitch and thus Lelo.
 |
| Maia Kealoha, Sydney Agudong play Lelo, Nani |
The movie feels emotionally manipulative. While the casting is great, especially Lelo, the movie also leverages this cute kid for a lot latitude. This is obviously a child that needs structure and rules. She's being raised by her sister who is working, and that leaves Lelo with a lot of free time to wander. I didn't believe the social worker was doing what's best or that such a setup would even be allowed.
Stitch does finally have a breakthrough and realize how his lack of impulse control creates a situation for Lelo. I thought Lelo might have the same realization in regards to her sister, but that realization doesn't happen.
The ending is saccharine, which is typical for animated movies. Once it moves to live action, I expect more realism. These types of movies never try to adapt or update the original story.
No comments :
Post a Comment