He plays a CIA agent called Cobra Bubbles in “Lilo & Stitch,” the live-action version of the animated classic.
A fresh take on the tale that touched hearts worldwide, the original film which revolved around a Hawaiian family, resonated deeply with audiences of all ages and was a commercial success when it was released in 2002.
“We had to go back to when ‘Lilo & Stitch’ first came out,” shares the Two-time Emmy and Tony Award winner, Courtney B. Vance, whose character is a CIA operative working undercover as a social worker. “My wife and I have a set of twins. They’re 17 now. I think they were 3 or 4 at the time, and they were afraid of Stitch. We’ve seen the ‘Toy Story’ movies about four times each, and all the ‘Cars’ movies about four or five times each, but ‘Lilo & Stitch,’ we never got into it because they were too afraid.”
Lilo Pelekai is a 6-year-old girl living in Hawai’i who longs for a best friend. Following the loss of her parents, she and her older sister Nani, who is 18 years old, are left to fend for themselves. When their neighbor allows Lilo to visit the local animal shelter she brings home a wild and impulsive creature who seems intent on causing chaos. Unfortunately, her new pet, whom she names Stitch, is actually an alien, Experiment 626, who has fled Planet Turo, and has two representatives from space on his tail. As Lilo struggles to control the lovable but mischievous creature, Nani grapples with the pressures of trying to hold down a job and take care of her younger sister.
At the story’s core are two sisters dealing with the loss of their parents and the arrival of a misunderstood alien who helps them heal.
Despite not being deeply familiar with the original, Vance was drawn to the complexity and humor of Cobra Bubbles. “He is not actually a social worker at all, but is undercover portraying one, so it is a little tricky for him because he is a top-drawer operative security as well, and he always gets the job done.”
This sweet charming tale of intergalactic friendship between a 6-year-old Hawaiian girl and a fugitive alien is a touching reminder that family isn’t always about blood, but about love, loyalty.
Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, the film also stars Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere, Hannah Waddingham, Chris Sanders, Zach Galifianakis and Maia Kealoha.
Photos: Courtesy of Disney