RIOTUS

I wish I had seen the Lilo & Stitch live-action with kids, that way I’d know if it works. That’s not snark, I’m just not sure. The one thing I can say is: Stitch is perfection in every format. I have bunches of affection for live-Lilo too.

In 2002, Disney gave us an unexpected gem—a quirky alien invasion set in Hawaii that somehow became one of their treasured family stories. Now, in 2025, director Dean Fleischer Camp brings this tale of “bad dog” tricksters, sacrifice, and ohana to live action. And I have to applaud the marketing department. They understood the assignment, deploying an army of animatronic Stitches to theaters and letting him loose on social media to wreak havoc on other Disney properties—proving some chaos is good chaos.

For the most part, the story’s basics remain intact although there are shifts that reframe its focus. Chris Sanders, Stitch’s original voice and creator, returns to embody our beloved demented blue koala—aka Experiment 626—with the goblin energy we all adore. While newcomer Maia Kealoha steps into Lilo’s grass skirt with a natural charm that makes you forget she’s a newbie. Here’s where the live-action diverges. Sydney Elizabeth Agudong, as Nani, struggles to care for her sister while navigating a world dominated by tourism and responsibilities that keep her away from her love of surfing and marine biology. She’s willing to give up her dreams if it means she and her baby sister can stay together.

The supporting cast delivers but sometimes the comparisons take up more space than you want them to. Courtney B. Vance steps in as the Men In Black suit-wearing, Marsellus Wallace-coded, Cobra Bubbles—channeling Ving Rhames’ original with his take on stern-but-caring CIA agent. Billy Magnussen is an absolute joy as Pleakley. He nails the character’s quirky energy to perfection (sidebar: Billy is delightful to chat with). Zack Galifianakis, however, plays Stitch’s maker, Jumba, with a sinister restraint that strips out the big, campy, mad scientist vibes that David Ogden Stiers brought to the animated version. Then there’s the glaring absence of Captain Gantu (voiced in the original by Kevin Michael Richardson). Rioter Julian and I were dismayed. After everything that Shark Week and “Baby Shark” have done for us, how can we do this? Without Gantu’s villainy, Jumba is forced to double as the primary big bad, completely erasing his redemptive arc and rendering him toothless (but not in the good How to Train Your Dragon way). Jumba is meant to evolve from “evil genius” to ohana, but here? He’s a bumbling meanie. Give us back our Evil Shark-man.

Still, there’s some lovely casting symmetry. Tia Carrere, the original voice of Nani, shifts gracefully into the role of Mrs. Kekoa, a warm, “smiley,” and empathetic social worker who brings a gentler touch to the child services dynamic. Amy Hill trades her well-loved role as Mrs. Hasagawa for Tutu, David’s grandmother and the quintessential good auntie who speaks in Pidgin and radiates authentic local flavor. Tutu is a standout—easily one of the favorites—with her quick wit and heartfelt presence adding a sense of community to the movie.

However, Stitch is the secret sauce that turns alright into tasty—even when the editing is odd, almost like scenes were cut, and the jokes miss their timing. The rhythm of the writing feels off, as though the script needed more time for the characters to gel, instead of relying on so many sight gags. Although, I do appreciate the Fast & Furious love. After all, “ohana means family” and “it’s about family.” Stitch, as always, is a trickster god in the making, and his bond with Kealoha’s Lilo is still the pulse of the story. Even when the script stumbles. Hmm, you know what? Stitch and Lilo are pretty much Maui and Moana—one duo from Hawaii’s mystical past and the other from its sci-fi-influenced now. Dear Disney, please give us a crossover. Maybe a short that leads into your next big animated film. It’ll make us happy. 

In the end, Lilo & Stitch is still charmingly chaotic but this version is held together with hugs and vibes. At its best—like in the tender moments between Lilo and her bestie—it has lift. Chris Sanders’ iconic voice work and Kealoha’s too-freaking-cute, but like many of Disney’s live-action adaptations, it struggles emotionally where the animation excels. Some of the magic—the spark that made us fall in love with the original—sputters in the editing, found family building, and the timing. Other than Stitch and Lilo, the most charm comes from Tutu, with a wink at Pleakley for being so on point. Everything else is alright enough to make this version of ohana worth a watch, but after you see it, watch the original for the smiles.

The Live-Action Reimagining of the Animated Classic, LILO & STITCH is set to Wreak Mayhem Nationwide on Friday, May 23