Beginning as almost a shot-for-shot remake and soon evolving into a more nuanced approach to its themes, Lilo & Stitch doesn't prove to be wholly necessary, but it does distinguish itself from the original. Starring Maia Kealoha as Lilo, Sydney Agudong as Nani, and featuring Chris Sanders returning as the voice of Stitch, the new take on the classic Disney movie is the kind of summer adventure kids and adults will be happy to sink their teeth into. Changing enough that the story is different but still recognizable, Lilo & Stitch will be one of summer's big hits.

The beloved 2002 movie was a little messy. There were plot holes and logical issues, but this was part of the reason fans have revisited the project so many times for over 20 years. When it comes to remaking such a prominent part of so many people's childhoods, there's always a lot of risk. However, Lilo & Stitch tightens the story and sharpens its focus, getting rid of some of the glaring structural issues with the first film. Its emotional alterations are a little self-conscious, but Lilo & Stitch is also having a lot of fun.

Lilo & Stitch Relies On The Charm Of The Original, But Isn't Afraid To Make Some Changes

Characters Are Given New Life & The World Of Lilo & Stitch Feels Vividly Real

The issue with live-action adaptations largely revolves around the fact that audiences question why they're necessary in the first place. However, Lilo & Stitch has an awareness of this throughout the movie. It doesn't rely on the strength of the IP to get us into theaters. Overall, the characters are stronger and more fully realized, especially Nani, and her and Lilo's world is clearer and more vibrant. The film bursts with friends and neighbors, and detailed specifics about the memories the girls cherish, which effectively tug on our heartstrings.

Going into Lilo & Stitch, I was worried that there would be so much CGI it would be distracting, as the 2002 Lilo & Stitch relies on the animation to carry a lot of the humor. However, the project felt surprisingly real and rooted in its setting. The fact that it was shot on location in Hawai'i adds to the atmosphere, anchoring what could easily be a film that dips into uncanny valley territory. Fortunately, the opposite is true. Lilo & Stitch invests heavily in its live-action settings and storytelling, allowing us to see ourselves in the narrative.

The film lets the heartfelt narrative speak for itself and revels in the joy of finding your family in unexpected places.

Agudong takes center stage as Nani, who gets a much larger role in this iteration of the story, but it's the adorable Kealoha who steals the show as Lilo. It can't be easy to have chemistry with an alien who will be added in post-production. However, Kealoha is enchanting, and her relationships with Stitch and Nani are truthful. It isn't a chore to spend time with the characters. Lilo & Stitch balances its more direct take on grief and the prospect of the sisters' separation with plenty of adventure and humor that prevents the plot from getting too dark.

Similar to 2002's Lilo & Stitch, the concentric plot lines are a little disted until the final moments of the story, when everyone finally crosses paths in their attempts to capture Stitch. However, many of the story's strengths can also be traced back to the original. It's not the most nuanced or emotionally complex plot ever written, but the new Lilo & Stitch doesn't try too hard to overcomplicate it. The film lets the heartfelt narrative speak for itself and revels in the joy of finding your family in unexpected places.

Lilo & Stitch Cracks The Code Of The Live-Action Remake

This Project Will Be A Baseline For All The Remakes That Follow It

I have no doubt that Lilo & Stitch will be a smash hit, hopefully kicking off a blockbuster summer that will continue reviving the box office. It's clear from the film that Disney is finally beginning to understand that these live-action remakes need to be as warm and inviting as their animated counterparts. We don't flock to the theaters to watch a story that's already been told with better animation to see flashy effects of hollow green-screened sets. Audiences want to be moved and given a reason to revisit the emotions sparked by the story, and Lilo & Stitch delivers.

It's easy to keep a mental tally throughout one of these projects, counting all the ways it's the same or different from the original. However, somewhere along the way, I stopped keeping score. I let myself Lilo and Nani as they try to be good for each other and grapple with the fact that grief often goes hand-in-hand with anger. The stakes are a little higher in the film this time around, and the problems are just as rooted in reality. However, this doesn't stop you from being swept away by the joys of the new Lilo & Stitch.

Lilo & Stitch will be released in theaters on May 23.