The highly anticipated Disney's Lilo & Stitch remake has had an influential promotional run, amidst a few controversies on character design and a potential villain erasure.
It is fair to say that fans of the original film were concerned about the film overall. Some cite it to be an unnecessary cash-grab, while others have voiced their concerns about some of the changes in the film, and its potential to lose the magic that the original movie had.
Still, some of the first reviews have come out after the premiere in Los Angeles last May 17, and it seems like the remake is on its way to being well-received by both young and returning audiences.
According to a review from The Hollywood Reporter, the remake will pay homage to some of the voice actors from the original film and also have a few alterations. New characters are introduced, including one with the same name as an original character from the 2002 movie.
"But younger viewers should eat it all up, and those weaned on the original film will appreciate the numerous shout-outs, including supporting turns by Tia Carrere, who voiced Nani in the original, and Jason Scott Lee, who voiced Nani’s surfer friend David (here played by Kaipo Dudoit)," The Hollywood Reporter wrote.
However, this is what the fans want — some risks and meaningful changes that retain the same heart as the original film.
Rotten Tomatoes calls it "a faithful remake with lots of heart and some fresh new touches," and praises 8-year-old newcomer Maia Kealoha, who stars as Lilo, for her charming portrayal of the character.
Sydney Agudong, who plays Nani, told Reuters that the beauty of a live-action film is that it captures the real human connections between the characters. Hopefully, audience members can grasp the real essence of the film, which is Ohana, the bond between family members, regardless of how big or small it may be.
Lilo & Stitch opens this weekend, May 23, in theatres. And with this anticipation brewing, it might even spark the same kind of magic that our younger selves witnessed almost 23 years ago. The reviews seem to suggest Disney fans and kids will love the movie, but we'll be eager to see how the audience reacts to the film when it opens in theaters this holiday weekend!