‘LILO & STITCH’ Review: Disney Hits The Reboot Button on Irreverence & Poignancy To Beneficial Effect

Courtney Howard // Film Critic

LILO & STITCH

Rated PG, 1 hour and 48 minutes

Directed by: Dean Fleischer Camp

Starring: Maia Kealoha, Sydney Agudong, Chris Sanders, Courtney B. Vance, Billy Magnussen, Zach Galifianakis, Tia Carrere, Jason Scott Lee, Amy Hill

When Disney’s animated LILO & STITCH debuted back in 2002, it was unlike anything the company had ever released before – a genuine breath of fresh air. Sandwiched between two sprawling male-led action-adventures (ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE and TREASURE PLANET), this insular sci-fi-comedy about an ungovernable blue, fluffy alien who helps heal a fractured family contained a delightfully weird irreverence and heartfelt poignancy. Directors Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois blessedly gave us edgier fare with heroes who don’t fit the traditional archetype: a misbehaving Hawaiian orphan and her equally mischievous rescue “dog.” It’s exceptionally bright, funny, charming and – as it’s shown over these past two decades – timeless.

Now, director Dean Fleischer Camp (MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON) taps into the same potent emotional journey in his whimsical, wonderful refurbishment of the same name, marrying live-action actors and environments with CG animated elements. He, along with adapting screenwriters Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes, changes a few things here and there, adding 23 more minutes to the run time, yet never subtracts what matters most. The original heart, soul and character drive remain intact, given a refresh by two star-making performances from its heroines. While die-hards might still prefer the original, this new iteration more than justifies its existence, even making a case for itself as one of the best remakes in the company’s contemporary canon.

The story begins in a galaxy far away with evil genius Dr. Jumba Jookiba (Zach Galifianakis) and his illegal genetic experiment 626 (voiced by Sanders) being tried by the ruler of the Galactic Council (Hannah Waddingham). Both are unrepentant for their alleged crimes, especially the fuzzy, four-armed alien creation who shares some choice words with the council, prompting one member to ink itself and another to hurl (a joke from the original that never gets old). But 626 outsmarts the tech used to imprison him and flees, only to crash land on Oahu, Hawaii. Jumba and nerdy Officer Pleakley (voiced by Billy Magnussen) are then tasked to travel to Earth and take the foul-mouthed scamp back into custody. Little do they know contact with humans will put them all on an irreversible course.

Sisters Nani (Sydney Agudong) and Lilo (Maia Kealoha) have been struggling since the recent accidental death of their parents. Young adult Nani is experiencing trouble trying to make ends meet, as well as provide stability and care for her younger sister. 8-year-old Lilo is experiencing the growing pains of childhood, in addition to bullying by mean girls in her dance troupe. She’s also causing complications for Nani at work as her off-beat nature is neither appreciated nor tolerated by most. But things change once 626 plummets into their lives. Mistaken for a strange dog and adopted by Lilo to be her new best friend, the newly renamed Stitch proves just as kooky, mayhem-loving and messy as his pint-sized owner, causing more problems than solving them. With social services and undercover CIA agent Cobra Bubbles (Courtney B. Vance) applying pressure on the siblings and with the assimilated aliens Jumba and Pleakley tailing Stitch, it would take a miracle for the trio to survive and overcome their issues.

Whereas the animated feature had a litany of factors that went into its success, the live-action version lives or dies on the performances from the two actors at the core of this tale. Kealoha and Agudong make the material’s resounding, powerful sentiments shine. Both turn in revelatory work. Youngster Kealoha has the greatest task balancing almost the entirety of the picture on her slight shoulders, yet she does so with fearless gusto, vibrancy and adept command of the screen. She’s a natural – not over-rehearsed child actor-y in the least. Agudong channels her character’s frustrations and fears with assured aplomb and vulnerability, best exemplified during the sisters’ heart-to-heart in the hammock.

Outside of Sanders, it’s also a heartening, respectful nod to see cast members from the original return to play supporting characters. The filmmakers organically incorporate everyone, from Tia Carrere (the original voice of Nani) as kind-hearted social worker Mrs. Kekoa to Jason Scott Lee (the original voice of Nani’s boyfriend David) as the new Nani’s disapproving boss at the luxury resort’s luau. Even Amy Hill, who voiced Nani’s scatterbrained prospective employer, gets a much more substantive role as the girls’ caring neighbor/ babysitter Tutu..

New sequences are prone to misinterpretation as extra padding, but actually serve to deepen the character dynamics (like Mrs. Kekoa giving Nani three to-dos) and wild absurdity (like Stitch smashing champagne flutes) or propel the action (like Jumba’s never-ending portal). While not totally necessary, strengthening Nani’s backstory by explaining her sacrifices and safety precautions gifts her with well-earned resonance when that final shot hits. A few character motivations shift willy-nilly from mounting threats to champion helpers, though we can extrapolate that it’s due to changed hearts, hammering home the film’s sentiment that love, kindness and kinship are the great equalizers.

There are a few changes that don’t function nearly as well. Jumba is less of a goofy comedic foil for Stitch and more of an insufferable jerk to everyone, since he’s essentially an amalgamation of his character and Captain Gantu from the original. Magnussen and Galifianakis are perfectly cast (wish their crosswalk scene lasted longer to dip into the awkward comedy of it all), but are frequently overshadowed due to their undercooked material. The “you lied to me” moment between Lilo and Stitch feels rushed and the emotional potency is hand-waved solely to take us into the next big set piece. Dan Romer’s score works well as a sonic backdrop, but doesn’t quite match up to Alan Silvestri’s stirring symphonic compositions.

Still, what’s there will surely surprise folks. Retaining the Elvis songs on the soundtrack and the frivolity and slapstick culls nostalgic nods and curries audience favor, as does the impressive, expressive animation of cute Stitch. Giving people another opportunity to celebrate what they love about the original while sneaking in new, meaningful innovations and craftwork is always a blessing. And this feels like a soothing balm for these divisive, troubled times.

Grade: B

LILO & STITCH (2025) opens in theaters on May 23.