'Lilo & Stitch' review: A sweet, if flawed remake of a Disney classic

Courtesy of Disney

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Nostalgia is a helluva drug. No one knows that better than Disney, which is about to cash in again with a live-action remake of “Lilo & Stitch.” By default, it’s one of the better entries in this creatively bankrupt series, if only because it arrives on the heels of the lifeless “Snow White,” which couldn’t overcome its own lack of imagination, despite a solid performance from Rachel Zegler.

“Lilo & Stitch” works for the same reasons it did 20 years ago: it has a pulse and a heart, and it isn’t afraid to wear both on its sleeve. As someone who was diagnosed with ADD in second grade and grew up obsessed with Stitch’s manic energy, I always related to his feelings of isolation and the chaos he couldn’t quite contain.

At its core, this is still a story about family. “Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind,” the same message, now filtered through a 2025 lens. Director Dean Fleischer Camp, with writers Chris Bright and Mike Van Waes, updates a few key elements (especially the villain reveal in the third act), and while not all the tweaks land, some of them offer a little more nuance than expected.

Of course, some of the magic gets lost in translation. The CGI versions of alien sidekicks Jumba and Pleakley often tumble into the uncanny valley, and the whole alien subplot still feels inherently goofy. Kids will love it. Parents might check their watches.

Disney’s banking on goodwill—and Stitch’s cuteness—to carry this thing across the finish line, and to a large extent, it works. Seeing Stitch as a tactile, mischievous little creature interacting with the real world is a joy. Even when the film coasts visually and rarely strays from the original blueprint, it’s undeniably charming. It helps that newcomer Maia Kealoha is a winning Lilo, nailing the character’s resourcefulness and warmth. She carries the emotional weight of the film like a pro.

Still, the script pulls its punches. Lilo’s quirky, borderline-weird personality has been sanded down to something safer, more generic. Even the school bully subplot lacks bite. But the movie finds its groove once Lilo and Stitch meet, the chemistry clicks, the energy lifts, and suddenly it all starts working.

It’s when the movie detours from the heart of the story that things get wobbly. Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen (as Jumba and Pleakley) spend much of the runtime traversing through Hawaii trying to capture Stitch. Magnussen goes full camp and sells it with flair, but Galifianakis is stuck with the film’s biggest narrative swerve, and it lands with a big ole’ thud.

One highlight? The sisterly bond. Sydney Agudong brings depth to Nani, who’s given more to chew on this time around than just playing Lilo’s guardian. There’s a richer emotional texture here that makes you wish the film ditched the sci-fi antics and focused on these sisters, and Stitch as a chaotic third wheel obviously. It’s in these quieter moments where Fleischer Camp, who previously helmed the lovely “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On,” shines.

Ultimately, the one thing a “Lilo & Stitch” movie has to get right is the bond between its two leads. Chris Sanders returning as the voice of Stitch is a sweet touch, and Kealoha gives the role of Lilo heart and soul. The result is a movie that’s unnecessary, a little clumsy, but undeniably sweet.

I was six when I saw the original “Lilo & Stitch” in 2002. Seeing them back on the big screen gave me a kick, even if it mostly just made me want to go home and watch the cartoon again.

Grade: B- 

LILO & STITCH opens in theaters Friday, May 23rd.