Lilo & Stitch movie review: Emotive but not exactly funny live action anime

Lilo & Stitch still

Film: Lilo & Stitch
Cast: Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders, Sydney Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Zach Galifianakis, Hannah Waddingham, Courtney B. Vance, Tia Carrere
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 2.5/5
Runtime: 108 min.

This live-action remake of an animated film that premiered 23 years ago, based on an idea by the inspired co-writer/co director Chris Sanders, is a nostalgia driven mining of its own IP, by Disney. The film deals with a touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family, but it's not as funny as expected.

Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, this Lilo & Stitch is faithful enough to the original. But there a few changes tweaked in too. The relationship between the 6-year-old Hawaiian orphan Lilo (Maia Kealoha) and her older sister, Nani (Sydney Elizabeth Agudong), who's struggling to maintain her guardianship amid financial difficulties and Lilo's rebellious behavior, has a lot more emotional depth. The plot and a lot of the dialogue from the original is stretched thin here.

Stitch (voiced by Chris Sanders), is a destruction-loving, genetically engineered creature created by mad scientist Dr. Jumba Jookiba (Zach Galifianakis). The film begins with an animated Stitch living on a planet ruled by the United Galactic Federation and its leader, the Grand Councilwoman (Hannah Waddingham), threatened with exile, managing to escape, and winding up on Earth - in Hawaii. He is being pursued by Jumba and Agent Pleakley (Billy Magnussen), who assume human form on earth.

Stitch, the Elvis-loving alien, winds up in an animal shelter, is mistaken for a dog and gets adopted by Lilo. Stitch has a propensity for wreaking havoc wherever he goes, so it's tough going for a while but the little girl doesn't give up and manages to teach him that "Ohana means family."

The ensuing visual chaos is caused by tearaway events, fast-paced chases and chaotic situations.There's some fun to be had seeing Jumba and Agent Pleakley awkwardly adapt to their new human form. Supporting turns by Tia Carrere, Jason Scott Lee, the addition of new characters such as David's feisty grandmother (Amy Hill) and Cobra Bubbles (Courtney B. Vance), and several callbacks to the original, serve up nostalgia.

The animation is patchy. The colorful alien world, Hawaiian characters, surfing scenes and the hula dance scene are a feast for the eyes though. Music is inviting. Island sounds provided by the Kamehameha School Choir and a Hawaiian lullaby sung by Tia Carrere are the highlights.

Dean Fleischer Camp's live-action sensibility is rather tame though. The sense of anarchy evident in the 2002 animation film, is missing. Stitch remains animated, while most other characters are played by real people - so there's no whacky madcap antics to behold either. This new Lilo & Stitch is fast, loud and chaotic. Camp manages to deliver some laughs but it sure ain't enough.