Lilo & Stitch (2025) Movie Review - Spoiler Free

Disney Channel movie quality, not too shabby CGI, emotional resolutions that fall flat. You guessed it, it is another Disney live-action remake of one of its classics!

Genre: Comedy / Drama / Sci-Fi 

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Cast: Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders, Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnuso, Zack Galifianakis, Amy Hill, Kaipo Dudoit, Courtney B. Vance, Hannah Waddingham & Tia Carrere.

Run Time: 108 min.

US Release: 23 May 2025

UK Release: 21 May 2025

German Release: 22 May 2025

Welcome back to another review of a Disney live-action remake, this time tackling a movie I believe to be just slightly above average. Usually, this is the type of material I agree to remake if the ideas further the quality, yet the House of Mouse has once again proven that it doesn’t have an aim to improve on its source material. Granted, it also doesn’t drive the production against the wall, as it did with Snow White. This is a faithful adaptation of the original 2002 animation, with minor tweaks to modernise the plot. 

So stitch with me through my review for the live-action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch.

Lonely Hawaiian girl Lilo befriends the runaway alien Stitch. Together, they try to mend her fractured family while avoiding intergalactic agents on the hunt for the alien creature.

A hybrid revamp was planned as early as 2018, to be adapted by Mike Van Waes, with Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich producing. John M. Chu was in talks by 2020 to direct the flick, however, it was reported that Waes left production. As the search started for a new writer, Chu gave up his directing chair due to other obligations. It took the studio nearly two years to hire Fleischer Camp as the new regisseur, with Chris Kekaniokalani Bright having been brought in to rewrite the script.

Let me start by mentioning the positives in the screenplay, given that there are fewer. For one, it is a pretty faithful adaptation of the 2002 animated feature, with minor tweaks made to modernise the story, creating a more contemporary setting. Then there is the effort to accurately represent modern Hawaiian culture, though it only does so at a surface level. Lilo’s emotional journey is better explored, adding layers of psychological healing through her friendship with Stitch.

Unfortunately, this is where the constructive criticism ends, as the rest of the script deals with a ton of issues. From the clumsy, uneven pacing to the “made for Disney Channel” atmosphere, nothing about the narrative made it sound as if it was meant for the silver screen. Comedic slapstick moments are cringy, plus out of place, while its sentimental conclusion feels unearned. Finally, there is one specific change made that not only harmed Nani’s characterisation, but also undermined the key message of ‘ohana’. 

Comparing the dialogue with the original, this one has much more exposition than its blueprint, feeling as if the studio had less faith in the audience to figure out core points by themselves. That said, the humour between the sisters is still cute, maintaining much of the 2002 version’s heart.

The interaction between Lilo, played by Maia Kealoha in her first role, and Stitch, voiced by Chris Sanders, who voiced the alien, created him, and directed the first iteration, remains the highlight of the narrative. Experiment 626 feels like the blue furry, mischievous alien many came to love, however, it was the young Kealoha who stole the show, as she gave a much deeper performance than her animated counterpart. She is sweet, breathing fresh air in a faithful interpretation of her role.

Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, who took over the part of Nani, gives an equally grounded rendition, adding profundity to the character. Nani feels like an actual person with interests. Regretably, changes have been made to some of her decisions, which go contrary to who Nani is, endangering the essence of ‘family’. This is a common issue throughout the film, as new personas are introduced, taking away from or modifying already established ones.

Such an example is Tia Carrere, who voiced Nani in the previous iteration, now playing a social worker, who was created for this revamp. That said, the inclusion of Mrs. Kekoa makes sense, as I never bought Cobra Bubbles to be a facilitator. Talking of Bubbles, C. B. Vance gives such an exaggerated rendition of him, he feels absolutely cartoonish. 

Billy Magnuso plays Pleakly; in the meantime, Zack Galifianakis took over the persona of Dr. Jumba. Both are over-the-top slapstickish, which doesn’t suit the rest of the tone. Of the two, it is Magnuson who gives the better performance, as Galafianakis comes off as wooden. Though that might be due to the unforgivable script change they gave Jumba.

Cinematographically, Lilo & Stitch is passable, making notable use of its Hawaiian setting. The camera successfully captures rich, natural landscapes, using beautiful sweeping shots of lush beaches. The natural light, plus rich colourful palettes, enhances the sensation of a tropical island. The inconsistent editing, nonetheless, does affect the flow of the plot, while the polished picture doubles down on the “made for TV” quality.

Surprisingly, the computer-generated effects do blend well with the practical sets, creating a well-balanced visual experience. The use of puppets during filming helped with the realistic shadows plus lighting for CGI roles, as well as with the interaction with real actors. The computer visuals are especially impressive when it comes to the character of Stitch, as much of his core design has been unchanged. 

The soundtrack makes much use of the original’s score, revitalising it for a modern audience. Songs by Elvis Presley are once again used, as it was in the animated feature.

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Verdict: All in all, this was once again a needless remake by Disney Studios, who are simply trying to cannibalise their own classic products. Though not as awful as Pinocchio, Peter Pan & Wendy or Snow White, nor as pointless as The Lion King or its sequel, Mufasa, Lilo & Stitch manage to maintain the animation's central story, yet modernising specific parts. Lilo’s character arc is expanded on, Stitch is as mischievous as always, and while Nani is fleshed out more than in the 2002 flick, a vital change has been made that affected her overall persona, just like the key message of ‘ohana’/family, as well as the emotional ending. Maia Kealoha is unbelievably cute as Lilo, and Sydney Agudong gives a solid performance as Nani. It was also nice to see Tia Carrere come back. Everyone else acted wooden, was unfunny and felt like they were force-reading lines. It is a subpar experience, earning a 4.5 out of 10. 

My honest opinion? If you haven’t seen the 2002 version, or your children haven’t seen it, better watch that! Otherwise, if you are curious, this is a one-time watch! But I don’t recommend watching it in cinemas… wait for streaming! So what did you think? Leave a comment below & as always, thank you for reading!