‘Lilo and Stitch’ first reviews describe the film as ‘heartfelt, raw and real'; hailed as the ‘best live-action remake yet’

‘Lilo and Stitch’, Disney’s latest live-action remake, was recently screened for select members of the press. The initial reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, with many critics calling it the best Disney live-action remake to date.Critic Wendy Lee Szany wrote on X, “‘Lilo and Stitch’ is the best Disney live-action to date. Seeing Stitch in his live-action form on the big screen brings on a huge wave of nostalgia. There are tons of laughs and heartwarming moments. The film hits similar beats to the original, while adding new flavours.”Journalist Laura Sirikul added, “‘Lilo and Stitch’ was heartwarming and really gave the official film more depth to Lilo and Nani. Maia Kealoha is a star! Stitch was so well made. I never imagined in 23 years they’d be able to merge animation with live action this well. It was magical. Very sweet.”‘Lilo and Stitch’ is the first Disney animated movie from the 2000s to be adapted into live action. Both the original and the remake follow the story of a young, lonely Hawaiian girl named Lilo who finds a cute, blue, chaotic alien she names Stitch. With her older sister Nani, Lilo raises Stitch and teaches him the meaning of ‘ohana’ or family.The cast features Maia Kealoha as Lilo; Sydney Elizabeth Agudong as Nani; Zach Galifianakis as Dr Jumba Jookiba, Stitch’s alien creator; Billy Magnussen as Agent Pleakley; Courtney B. Vance as Cobra Bubbles; Hannah Waddingham as the Grand Councilwoman; and Chris Sanders, the original film’s co-director and co-writer, returning as the voice of Stitch. Tia Carrere, who voiced Nani in the original, returns in the remake as a social worker.The original ‘Lilo & Stitch’, released in 2002, was a box office success, grossing $273 million worldwide on an $80 million budget. It was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards but lost to ‘Spirited Away’. Stitch’s popularity led to several sequels, TV shows, and video games.