The plot: Stitch, an extraterrestrial entity, comes to planet Earth after he escapes his prison, where he tries to impersonate a dog. Things take a turn when Lilo adopts him from an animal shelter.
This remade was disappointing.
Pros: I glad Chris Sanders returns to voice stitch again. There was some moments throughout the film I enjoyed. At times I feel for certain parts between Lilo & Stitch & How it betray Hawaii culture into the film.
Cons: The changes from the original felt really pointless. Both Jumba and Wendell were wasted. Gantu was anywhere to be seen at all in the movie. How it’s butchered the message of family. A lot of the alien designs do look decent to horrid & the full film felt washed.
Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure
Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp
Produced by Jonathan Eirich, Dan Lin
Screenplay by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright, Mike Van Waes
Based on Lilo & Stitch (2002)
by Chris Sanders.
Dean DeBlois, Lilo & Stitch franchise
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Hannah Waddingham, Chris Sanders, Courtney B. Vance, Zach Galifianakis & Maia Kealoha.
Edited by Adam Gerstel, Phillip J. Bartell
Cinematography: Nigel Bluck
Music by Dan Romer
Production companies: Wait Disney Pictures, Rideback
Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Cast:
- Maia Kealoha as Lilo Pelekai, an orphaned six-year-old Native Hawaiian girl “who loves hula, surfing, and wildlife, with a special affinity for all things ‘gross’.” She is very imaginative yet rebellious and impulsive, which gets her into trouble often and ostracizes her from her classmates, who consider her a “weirdie”.
- Chris Sanders as the voice of Stitch, a blue koala-like illegal alien genetic experiment known as Experiment 626, who is adopted by Lilo as a “dog”. He is described as “unruly, impulsive, and freakishly strong; he’s a furry, ugly-cute wrecking ball seemingly bent on destroying everything in his path.” Sanders, who wrote and directed the original animated film alongside Dean DeBlois, created the character and originated the role.
- Sydney Elizebeth Agudong as Nani Pelekai, the older sister of Lilo and her legal guardian. She is described as “intelligent, overachieving, athletic, Type A” and a “straight-A student” who has been feeling the increasing pressures of having to take care of Lilo, causing issues with her and Lilo’s social worker, with child protective services threatening to separate the Pelekai sisters and put Lilo into foster care.
- Zach Galifianakis as the voice of Dr. Jumba Jookiba, the mad scientist who created Stitch.
- Galifianakis also physically portrays Jumba’s human disguise.
- Billy Magnussen as the voice of Agent Wendell Pleakley, an agent of the United Galactic Federation and their “expert” on Earth, sent to prevent Jumba from harming any humans while hunting Stitch.
- Magnussen also portrays Pleakley’s human disguise.
- Courtney B. Vance as Cobra Bubbles, a CIA agent sent to capture Stitch.
- Hannah Waddingham as the voice of the Grand Councilwoman, the grey alien leader of the United Galactic Federation and its council who orders Jumba and Pleakley to capture Stitch after his escape.
- Kaipo Dudoit as David Kawena, a fire performer and lifeguard who is a loyal friend and neighbor to Lilo and Nani. He performs the “fire knife dance” at the lūʻau where he and Nani work at. Kahiau Machado was originally cast in the role, but he was recast shortly thereafter due to his prior usage of a racial slur.
- Tia Carrere as Mrs. Kekoa, a social worker who is “a practical, by-the-book kind and patient woman who checks in regularly with Nani”, but is nevertheless aware of Nani’s struggles to keep up with her duties. Carrere previously voiced Nani in Lilo & Stitch animated media.
- Amy Hill as Tūtū, a Native Hawaiian in her 70s who is the long-time neighbor of the Pelekais and the grandmother of David Kawena.[8] She is described as “a warm, quick-witted woman who speaks with a local Pidgin accent.” She is original to this film.[10] Hill previously voiced Mrs. Hasagawa in the original film and Lilo & Stitch: The Series.
- Emery Hookano-Briel as Mertle Edmonds, Lilo’s hula classmate and bully.
- Jason Scott Lee as the manager for the Lū’au Nani and David work at called “Jimmy’s Luau”. Lee previously voiced David in the original film and Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch (2005).
I would recommend skiping this one. Go watch the original on Disney+.
Rating: 1 out of 5 Stars
Ryan Balkwill:
Resident film reviewer,
Level Best Art Cafe