Disney continues to remake all their animated hits into live-action adaptations. While some enter the uncanny valley and feel vacant (THE LION KING and MUFASA), others are just awful (PINOCCHIO and DUMBO). I’m happy to report that LILO & STITCH delivers a “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” that’s nearly on the same level as Disney’s best live-action remakes – CINDERELLA and THE JUNGLE BOOK.
I remember seeing MINORITY REPORT and LILO & STITCH in 2002 on their opening weekend. I loved both for very different reasons, and they also made my top ten lists that year. It’s hilarious that in 2025, we have Tom Cruise with MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, once again facing off against Stitch at the box office.
The original LILO & STITCH worked so well because it leaned into crude humor with a sentimental message of “Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.” The live-action remake does the opposite and doubles down on the heart-warming aspects, which is sure to make every parent cry as they watch Lilo’s broken little family try to figure out how to stay together.
None of this cheesiness would work if it weren’t for Maia Kealoha’s performance as Lilo. In a star-making role, she’s the spirit of the film – and by the end, it’s her naturalism that will make audiences care.
As a parent now, it’s interesting to watch shows with messages about kids who cause trouble. LILO & STITCH quotes have more in common with Dr. Becky’s “Good Inside” books than they might realize, as they showcase why all kids who misbehave are, in fact, good inside. This message is displayed through the programming of Stitch and the grief of Lilo as they each make bad choices together.
For the first time in forever, I’m glad that Disney remade an animated film into a live-action version. LILO & STITCH is a movie that “isn’t perfect, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t good.”
LILO & STICH (2025) is playing in theaters now.
