Will a Modern Annie Meet Your Expectations?

Don't you dare call this Annie an orphan! Throughout the film, Wallis's character corrects people by pointing out she is a foster kid. Though some may attribute this change to today's lack of American orphanages, Gluck says it has more to do with emphasizing Annie's hope of finding her parents.

"By saying Annie and these kids are orphans, that means they have no parents," Gluck explains. "So, if Annie admits that she's an orphan, she's saying that she'll never find her parents, and Annie doesn't believe that."

Well, sort of. Cameron Diaz still plays the boozy, short-fused foster mother who can't stand little girls. But as the movie progresses, viewers see she has a bit of depth and even a conscience.

"As we went through, she just kept evolving more and more," Diaz says of Miss Hannigan. "She doesn't love herself because she believes that the only way she can be loved is if she's famous. So until she learns how to love herself and realizes that she is worthy of love, then she can't receive love."

In addition to bringing the storyline up to date, Gluck also had to make sure the iconic songs would appeal to a generation that prefers hip-hop to show tunes. Of course, having music mogul Jay Z and pop star Sia on his team made that challenge a little easier. While songs like "Tomorrow" and "Hard Knock Life" remained relatively untouched, others got complete makeovers. Those listening closely will also notice a few new numbers, including "The City Is Yours" and "Opportunity."

In addition to tackling the foster system and social media (more on that later), Annie touches on another issue that affects more than 25 percent of the kids in the US — illiteracy. When Annie is put on the spot to read from a teleprompter at a public event, she not only spills her secret, but she also connects to Will Stacks in a way that may move you to tears.

It's no surprise that Twitter and Instagram play an important role in the film. After all, this is the 21st century. But while these outlets were helpful in the film, Diaz doesn't want parents and kids to forget that they can be equally dangerous. When asked her thoughts on social media, Diaz says:

"I think it's something that kids don't know how to handle . . . They already have enough coming at them, and then they are put in the position to manage all these other people who are trying to manage their emotions . . . There's just so much negatively coming at you and there are so many kids trying to validate themselves through how many likes they have. It drives me nuts that kids have to take this on in their young lives."

Despite a few differences, Annie still manages to take us on an emotional roller coaster ride. You'll laugh at the initial interactions between Annie and Will Stacks. You'll cry when the two are torn apart (and eventually reunited). And you'll leave the theater singing for tomorrow.