Lilo & Stitch

Rating 7/10

One of the things that often hinders my enjoyment of Disney’s live-action remakes of their animated films is that the originals are often held in such high regard that there’s little hope of a reworking surpassing them. I saw the 2002 Lilo & Stitch when it was released, but that was twenty-three years ago. I could barely recall it. While I remember thinking it was fine, it wasn’t some treasured classic that defined my childhood. I experienced the template well into adulthood, not through the lens of youthful nostalgia.

That said, I walked into the new Lilo & Stitch without any expectations. And honestly, I was surprised—this turned out to be a super fun romp—one of the stronger entries in Disney’s growing library of live-action reimaginings.

On a distant planet, a galactic council arrests rogue scientist Dr. Jumba Jookiba (Zach Galifianakis) for creating genetic experiments—most notably the chaotic and hyper-destructive Experiment 626, who looks a bit like a mutant blue koala. 626 escapes in a spaceship and crash-lands on Earth in Hawaii.  There he camouflages himself as a dog to avoid recapture by Jumba and bumbling alien expert Wendell Pleakley (Billy Magnussen). Meanwhile, a lonely Hawaiian girl named Lilo (Maia Kealoha) struggles to fit in with her peers. She is cared for by her older sister, Nani (Sydney Elizebeth Agudong), who is barely keeping their household together after the loss of their parents. At the pound, Lilo adopts the strange creature, naming him Stitch, and a wild adventure unfolds that tests the meaning of family.

A story is only as good as its characters, and the greatest strength of this update lies in the likability of its cast.  Maia Kealoha is cute as a button without ever being cloying. At just 7 years old, she truly acts like a genuine, though slightly odd, child—not some precocious child actor playing “adorable.” Her natural performance is rather charming. Sydney Elizebeth Agudong is sympathetic as Nani, with more screen time and dimension than the animated version allowed. Her chemistry with Kealoha feels authentic and warm, capturing the messiness of real sisterhood.

This update also improves on two of the more cartoonish side characters: Bulky, four-eyed Jumba and slender, one-eyed Pleakley are aliens that now become cloned humans as disguises. Galifianakis brings a quirky intensity, but it’s Billy Magnussen who steals scenes with his gleeful zaniness. The fact the duo now appears human rather than CGI aliens in goofy costumes adds to the narrative. They recall classic comedy duos like Laurel and Hardy. The inspired choice offsets some of the more fantastical elements of the plot.

Director Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On) sets the tone early with a light touch. Stitch drops out of the sky near a Hawaiian wedding reception and creates chaos in pursuit of cake. The new sequence is a nice addition not found in the source. It kicks things off on a playful note, signaling that this adaptation is not going to be a scene-for-scene retelling. That put a smile on my face—and it never really left. While the extended runtime could benefit from some trimming, it stays engaging throughout.

At its core, the picture succeeds because it never loses sight of what made its precursor resonate: the theme of ohana—family, where no one gets left behind or forgotten. The bond between Lilo and her unusual new friend, Stitch, remains touching, even in this reimagined form. It might not be “stitch-perfect,” but with its blend of heart and humor, this reinterpretation is a satisfying night at the movies.

05-26-25