After years of flop and controversy, Disney returns to shine with Lilo & Stitch’s live action. Nothing politically correct, only real emotions. And a blue monster that conquers everyone.
Disney is experiencing a period of remake-mania Without brakes. A live action after another, in an assembly line that seems more fueled by nostalgia than from originality. Why risk new stories when you can ride the wave of the Amarcord effect? The characters are already there, we know them by heart, we made us a snack in front. It’s all there, ready. But the formula in recent years has begun to creak.
From Mulanwho tried to dress from epic films and lost the soul on the street, up to Snow Whitewhich seems more a declaration of intent than a film. AND The little mermaid? The film went down in the story more for the controversies on the choice of the leading actress than for the plot. Halle Bailey held up well, but the audience was already tired before the film came out. Moral of the fairy tale: many memes, a few tickets sold.
It seemed the end for Disney. Then came Lilo & Stitchand the blue monster made the miracle.
Almost bricked up, between a little distrust and zero expectations, the live action of Lilo & Stitch he overturned everything: 7.1 million euros on the weekend in Italy, 8.4 million also considering the release Wednesday. In the USA it has already exceeded i 183 millionAlmost 400 million Worldwide. And in one weekend he brought the Italian box office to a +259% compared to the same period last year. Stuff to make the sparkling wine into the corridors of Burbank.
The secret? Simplicity. Or rather: loyalty. No upheavals, no forced inclusion or messages sewn on force. Only a somewhat alone Hawaiian girl and an alien who seems to have come out of a mutant plush. A funny, tender and authentic friendship. A story that does not need special effects to move. And above all: real emotionsdon’t think about becoming viral on social networks, but to touch the heart of the viewer.
And it works. It works because it is sincere, because you breathe love for the original and respect for the public. It works because it takes you back in time and makes you feel again a child, when you chose the film of the evening by rummaging through the VHS.
Even the dubbing – for once – does its part. Just influencer put there so much to make news: this time there are real professionals, and he feels. The voices are credible, well dosed, perfect for the characters. And the CGI is also made with good taste: Stitch is strange, hairy at the right point, but never slips into “too much”. Indeed, it seems almost true.
The ending? Moving. A small fist in the stomach seasoned with tenderness and Ohana (which means family). The relationship between Lilo and his sister Nani – love, sacrifice, misunderstandings, responsibilities – is told with that delicacy that does not need proclamations. No lessons to learn, only a great reminder on what family means.
And so, while the princesses stumble between revisionisms and Twitter Storm, it is he – Stitch, the alien crooked with a big heart – to bring Disney back to track. Perhaps the most powerful message that this film Lancia is just that: Authenticity still wins. And maybe the house of the mouse this time learned the lesson.
