“Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind.”
So, the thing I’ve noticed works best for these live action adaptation of Disney movies is continuity, which is something that Lilo and Stitch adheres to very well. I suppose that it wasn’t hard to do when the live action is written and directed by Chris Sanders, the person responsible for the writing and directing of the original beloved animated movie on which this adaptation is based. I should also mention that Sanders voiced the Stitch character himself, something he repeats for this film. So, as I said, continuity is key for this movie. It helps to have the right person at the wheel, and I can’t imagine a better person to be at the wheel than the person ultimately responsible for Lilo and Stitch’s initial creation.
For those unaware of the premise of Lilo and Stitch, though I suspect I’d be hard pressed to find someone like that, the story follows Stitch, a blue koala-like illegal alien genetic experiment known as Experiment 626. Stitch was originally created to serve as a weapon, but his unruly nature makes him uncontrollable. Given his indestructible nature, he is sentenced to exile. However, before the sentence can be carried out, Stitch escapes his capturers, steals a ship, and eventually crash-lands on Earth. More specifically on the Hawaiian island of Kaua’i. In order to survive, Stitch disguises himself as a dog, albeit a blue-haired one, and is subsequently adopted by Lilo, who is somewhat of her an outcast herself.
Lilo is a loner and misunderstood by her peers, who consider her weird. Further complicating Lilo’s situation is her home life. Lilo, due to the tragic passing of her parents, is in the care of her sister Nani, who despite good intentions, struggles under the pressures of parenthood. Nani seeks to keep the family together, but this is threatened by social services, who believe her not to be up to the task of raising Lilo. The arrival of Stitch only serves to threaten Lilo’s potential removal from Nani’s care, as Stitch’s unruly nature as well as those pursuing Stitch undermine Nani’s efforts. Despite all of this, Lilo and Stitch form a genuine bond.
This is quite the busy weekend for Hannah Waddingham, who is starring in both blockbuster films releasing this weekend. Now that is what you call overachieving. Not only did she voice the Grand Councilwoman, the grey alien leader of the United Galactic Federation for this film, but she is also starring as Rear Admiral Neely, the head of an aircraft carrier for Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning. Given that the box office winner for the weekend is likely to be this film or the Tom Cruise-led film, either way Mrs. Waddingham can call herself a winner. It nearly almost worked out for Ving Rhames the same way. Rhames, who played Cobra Bubbles in the original film, was reportedly offered a cameo role in this film but had to decline due to being busy with his own Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning responsibilities.
As I previously mentioned, I think the key to this film’s success is its continuity to its predecessor. Thankfully, that doesn’t mean that the film is a carbon copy of the original film, but it upholds the values and essence of the animated version. Both films at their core are about family and embrace the ideals that family isn’t just blood, but it is also the one we choose. That is the driving theme of Lilo and Stitch’s relationship; they are two outcasts who form a bond and choose one another as family. This relationship is the heart of the film, as it prompts both characters to grow as individuals and to consider how their actions affect one another. Granted this character growth is more showcased when it comes to Stitch, when his actions inadvertently result in Lilo being hurt. Focusing on Stitch was the right move, as it provides the better character arc and brings the character full circle.
Speaking of continuity, Sanders’ reprisal is far from the only example in the film, as this adaptation truly keeps it in the family. Jason Scott Lee, who voiced David Kawena in the animated film, gets a cameo appearance. Additionally, Tia Carrere, the original voice of Nani Pelekai in the 2002 version, is cast in this film as social worker Mrs. Kekoa, a new character. This is where the film engages in a slight deviation, as the original social worker was the Cora Bubbles character, who still exists in the film and is brilliantly played by Courtney B. Vance. However, the Bubbles character’s motives in this version are adjusted. It is still in line with original character and still works. However, I would have liked to see some more dedication to fleshing this character out.
As it stands, it is a toss-up over which film wins the weekend. Having seen both films, I can honestly say that both films undoubtedly deserve the win, and as I previously stated either way it bound to be a good weekend for Hannah Waddingham. Given the family-oriented theme of Lilo and Stitch and the way it tugs on the heartstrings, I’m rooting for this one.
