Disney’s live-action “Lilo & Stitch,” now in the multi-plex theaters over the Memorial Day weekend, is anticipated to break box office records by Monday, a holiday.
The Hawaii-filmed project is surely to draw a family audience, whose patronage will probably boost the film with a $175 to $180 million gross, besting the Paramount-Tom Cruise “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning” summertime powerhouse.
“Lilo & Stitch” will be driven by the popularity of the naughty-but-nice blue alien, who is the lone cartoonish character in the film, and an obvious scene-stealer. And sorry, Lilo, the most popular figure from the movie.
You know a film is hot, hot, hot, when it is accompanied by a swarm of merchandise to accompany the buzz from the movie. And while Lilo has a few entries in the buyables, Stitch is going to be the character to fuel the jingling cash registers.
Parents, get your charge cards ready. The merch looks wonderful, and the kid on the block to be the first to get one of the items will be the king or queen of the summer. But several items are for adults, so parents won’t be left out. But because of the prices of the products, moms and dads mahy prefer to save the purchases as Christmas gifts. But knowing Disney, there will be more stuff later that Santa will deliver to the young ones.
Since Disney Stores have vanished in Hawaii, the easiest way to buy merch will be via online. So let me share a preview, with prices, of some of the best gifts available while stocks are plentiful.
The cool finds:
- A basic Stitch “talking” plush, $39,99.His eyes light up and shows many moods.
- An oversized vinyl Stitch, $24.99.
- A puppetronic Stitch plush, $49.99. A hand inserted into a cutout on the back of Stitch’s head makes the doll’s mouth open to “talk.”
- A Lego house, presumably where Stitch lives with Lilo, $89.99.
- An adult sweatshirt, with ‘Ohana lettering on the back, $79.99.
- A canvas tote, depicting a surfing Stitch, $19.99.
- An adult blue pair of Cros, festooned with Stitch images, $64.99
Go to www.disneystore.com to purchase and see more official Stitch buyables. Other sites, like Etsy and Target, may carry some of these items, or variations thereof.
Of course, you know that the cast includes many local actors, including:
- Maia Kealoha, as Lilo.
- Kaipo Dudoit, as David Kawena.
- Jason Scott Lee, as the luau manager.
- Sydney Agudong, as Nani Kelekai.
- Amy Hill, as Tutu.
- Tia Carrere, as Mrs. Kekoa.
- Celia Kaleialoha Kenney, as AJ.
Another local notable, with an esteemed credit: Chris Kekaniokalani Bright, one of the screenplay writers for “Lilo & Stitch.”
And that’s Show Biz…
Hi Wayne,
Thanks for the write up about Lilo and Stitch. I would really like to see it but can’t get to a movie theater where I can watch it in closed caption and get a seat for my wheelchair. AUWE! So guess I will have to wait until it comes on the TV like Moana 2. Hope you and Vi get to see them in the theater. Take care. Aloha Dolores