Lilo & Stitch
The long-running Disney remakeissance shows no signs of slowing, with the much-loved duo of Lilo & Stitch returning to the big screen. Dean Fleischer Camp’s live-action remake of the 2002 animated hit is now set to charm a new generation with its quintessential Disney magic.
Newcomer Maia Kealoha makes a delightful Lilo, with an appropriate mix of sass and warmth for the downtrodden. The film starts with the good-hearted, albeit mischievous, youngster freeing chickens from a coop and feeding a sandwich to her favourite fish. She has fantastic chemistry with onscreen sister, Nani, played by fellow newcomer Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, with the two synchronising their characters’ disparate personalities. Left to care for her younger sister following their parents’ deaths, Nani tries desperately to give Lilo a normal upbringing. This task is made even more difficult due to Lilo’s rebellious nature and the arrival of the wide-mouthed blue alien she soon adopts and dubs “Stitch”.
Zach Galifianakis is a tad underutilised as the eccentric scientist Dr Jumba, who is on Stitch’s tail, though the veteran funnyman does his best with his limited screentime. Billy Magnussen makes a likeable Pleakley, with a wide-eyed enthusiasm for the role. Meanwhile, fan-favourite Hannah Waddingham lends her trademark authoritative voice to the Grand Councilwoman.
It’s a little light on gag variation, with an emphasis on slapstick and gross-out humour that played well with the children of this advance screening. Unlike previous Disney movies that hold cross-generational appeal (eg Toy Story), there are few jokes geared towards older viewers. There’s also the notable omission of Pleakley’s apparent genderfluid identity, which was one of the most endearing aspects of the original film. In an era of widespread anti-trans rhetoric, it’s a shame that the filmmakers gave in to pressure to rewrite such a positive character.
Moreover, for a movie that is only 23 years old, Lilo & Stitch might seem like an odd choice to receive the live-action treatment. But, just as 90s nostalgia prevailed towards the end of the last decade, a reminiscence of all things Y2K is seemingly here to stay. And, despite the film’s shortcomings, Lilo and Stitch’s relationship remains infectiously heartwarming, and the feature is a joyful, wonderfully acted celebration of family, friendship and embracing difference. For those who were children at the time of the original’s release, it’s sure to evoke feelings as fuzzy as its titular alien-dog hybrid.
Antonia Georgiou
Lilo & Stitch is released nationwide on 21st May 2025.
Watch the trailer for Lilo & Stitch here:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
RSS