Lilo & Stitch
May 21st, 2025
MOVIE: LILO & STITCH
STARRING: MAIA KEALOHA, SYDNEY AGUDONG, CHRIS SANDERS, ZACH GALIFIANAKIS, BILLY MAGNUSSEN, COURTNEY B. VANCE
DIRECTED BY: DEAN FLEISCHER CAMP
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 2 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: PG
RUN TIME: 108 MINUTES
We’ve reached the point in Disney’s live-action remake cycle where expectations are low, and surprises are even rarer. While recent efforts like Snow White and Mufasa: The Lion King flirted with novelty, they ultimately fell flat. Lilo & Stitch looked more promising—on paper. But director Dean Fleischer Camp has delivered yet another reheated version of an animated classic that didn’t need fixing.
Rehashing the plot feels redundant. If you’ve seen the beloved 2002 original, you already know what happens: six-year-old Lilo (Maia Kealoha) is a quirky Hawaiian girl with a love for sandwiches, Elvis, and sea life. She struggles to fit in and lives under the guardianship of her older sister Nani (Sydney Agudong) after their parents’ deaths. When Stitch, a destructive blue alien, crash-lands on Earth, he finds an unlikely friend in Lilo, and the two form a powerful bond as they try to stay one step ahead of alien pursuers Jumba (Zach Galifianakis) and Pleakley (Billy Magnussen).
So, what went wrong? It’s hard to pinpoint just one issue. Stitch’s CGI is fine—his squishy nose is endearing, and he hilariously blasts Elvis songs. Kealoha does well in her role, and Agudong shows signs she’s capable of much stronger material. But the movie itself is lifeless.
The screenplay, updated by Mike Van Waes and Chris Kekaniokalani Bright, and Camp’s direction both struggle to recapture the emotional spark of the original. Camp, who previously delivered magic with Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, seems lost here. A few added scenes—like Stitch wrecking a wedding—don’t add much, and Galifianakis and Magnussen’s attempts at comic relief often feel more grating than funny.
In the end, this Lilo & Stitch is just another Disney do-over: visually competent but emotionally hollow. It may have been better suited for a quiet Disney+ release, though even then, the animated version remains the one worth rewatching. Lilo & Stitch is still adorable, but we just didn’t need two of them.
2 STARS
LILO & STITCH IS PLAYING IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE FRIDAY, MAY 23RD, 2025.
Written by: Leo Brady
