Movie Review: Lilo and Stitch (2025 film)

Movie Review: Lilo and Stitch (2025 film)                                                              5-25-25

This movie is about a 6-year-old Hawaiian girl named Lilo Pelekai. Lilo is a strange girl: She cuts off lures from fishing rods, goes into the jacuzzi with old people, frees chickens from her neighbor's yard, and gives fish sandwiches. The only one who understands her is her older sister Nani, who plans on studying marine biology in college. Because Lilo is so strange, the social workers plan on separating the sisters. One day, while visiting the local animal shelter, she meets a blue dog that she buys and names Stitch. Little does she know that Stitch is actually an alien from another galaxy who was made by a mad scientist that is meant to destroy everything he touches, and two aliens are disguised as humans who are intent on capturing Stitch! If that wasn't bad enough, CIA official Cobra Bubbles wants to capture Stitch as well for ruining a wedding.

Dean Fleischer-Camp's take on Lilo and Stitch is the best live-action Disney remake since The Jungle Book with a story that balances heart, tension, humor, and nostalgia equally, animation from ILM that recreates Stitch very well, world building that captures the best of Hawaii, some funny jokes, and a score from Dan Romer that recaptures the magic of the original.

Before anyone asks, no. I'm not repulsed by the alien designs: Before the movie came out, I decided to read The True Meaning of Smekday, the book that inspired DreamWorks' Home. In the book, the Boov are rather creepy-looking with multiple elephant legs, a wide mouth, fish eyes, and frog-like fingers. Yes, the Boov are disturbing to look at, but that's the point: Even though they're different from humans in every aspect, the Boov have a lot more in common with humans than you think. The same can apply to the alien characters in Lilo and Stitch. DreamWorks redesigned the Boov for Home so they could be made into toys that kids could buy.

Anyway, back to Lilo and Stitch. I also like the changes they made to Stitch's creator Jumba Jookiba: Without spoiling anything, let's say he's a reason why Gantu was cut from this adaption of Lilo and Stitch.

Jumba (Zach Galifianakis) at Planet Turro's trial.

I also love Maia Lealoha's performance as Lilo: She not only recaptures Daveigh Chase's (the original voice of Lilo Pelekai) vocal performance perfectly, but she also recaptures her behavior. She may not have bitten or punched her classmates (instead, she pushes Myrtle), but Lilo still loves Elvis, has weird interests, and her own doll who's recovering from surgery.

If I were to nitpick one thing, I don’t think Stitch went through character development as quickly as he did in the first film. Not to mention that some scenes move a bit too quickly compared to the original, though maybe that’s just me.

Stitch tearing apart sand castles.

In conclusion, in case Pixar’s next film Elio ends up being a critical disappointment, try to see Lilo and Stitch in theaters this Summer. Just be warned that like the original, this movie has moments that are emotional.

Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5

PS. If you're reading this Dean, maybe you could direct remakes of The Aristocats, The Fox and the Hound, and Oliver & Company: They're all movies that could use a fixer-upper.