Disney Dishes Out the Nostalgia with Live-Action "Lilo & Stitch" Remake

Your childhood memories are ready to greet you in high definition as Disney delivers on its continuous pursuit of reimagining its timeless classics. This time it's the turn of "Lilo & Stitch," a film not so old at only 23-years. Yet, in these fleeting years, a whole new generation of Disney lovers has sprung up-all ready to get lost in the Polynesian charm of this heartwarming tale. And, as for those who grew up glued to the original film, the three sequels and the spin-off TV series, it's all your sweet nostalgia served up on the silver screen.

On a creative count, the need for a live-action "Lilo & Stitch" may raise some eyebrows. After all, Stitch still needs to be animated. But for Disney, keeping the cash registers ringing overrides such quandaries. With plush toys of the cute and chaotic Stitch all set to raid the toy stores, Santa might need a bigger sack this Christmas.

The film has been directed by the versatile Dean Fleischer Camp and comes as a testament to his impeccable track record in independent cinema. The live-action "Lilo & Stitch" smoothly straddles the line between adherence to the beloved original and introducing just enough freshness to make it interesting. The remake shines a brighter spotlight on the emotional trajectory of sibling love between six-year-old, adorable rebel Lilo (played by Maia Kealoha) and her elder sister, Nani (played by Sydney Elizabeth Agundo), trying to keep the family intact amidst financial crunch and Lilo's mischievous antics.

We take off in a strange planet, home to the United Galactic Federation and its leader, the Grand Councilwoman (voiced by Hannah Waddingham). Enter Stitch-the cute yet rather destructive, alien experiment, brought to life by mad scientist Dr. Jumba Jookiba (played by Zach Galifianakis)-who, dodging exile, crash lands on Earth, specifically, in the heart of Hawaii. The madcap chase begins as Jumba and Agent Pleakley (Billy Magnussen) hot on Stich's trail, morph into amusing human shapes and adapt in the most hilariously awkward ways.

Our very blue, quasi-koala-like Stitch ends up in an animal shelter, firmly passing off as a dog (a running gag that keeps the humor up). A rendezvous with Lilo later, Stitch finds a new home and a bond begins to bloom, despite Stitch's innate talent for chaos and destruction. Cue in the iconic line, "Ohana means family," and fans get to relish a heart-tugging trip down memory lane.

With a string of entertaining escapades, adrenaline-pumping chases, and suspenseful situations, the film clocks 108 minutes-more than the brisk 85 of the original. Adults might find the visual frenzy a tad too much, but the young and the young-at-heart are sure to devour it all-recognizing shout-outs to the original, even applauding cameos from original voices Tia Carrere and Jason Scott Lee. Let's not forget about the newbie characters giving the plot a fresh twist.

"Lilo & Stitch" might not top the list of Disney's finest, judging by its initial direct-to-streaming plan. But that's hardly going to make a dent, as it's geared up to sweep the box-office, making the beginning of the summer season an exciting one.