“LILO & STITCH (2025) Review: Open Your Eyes Wide And Say Ahhh

Introduction

I was in college when the original Lilo & Stitch (2002) was released, so no, I didn’t see it back when it came out. However, I did see parts of it on a cruise once. But that’s as close as I ever got to watching the whole thing. The point is that I have no idea if this new version tracks closely with the original. But I’m told by a fellow critic that it was very close. So, this 2025 version is just as wacky as the original.

Synopsis

An alien chaos monster known as Experiment 626 escapes intergalactic custody and steals a spaceship. 626 crash-lands on Earth in Hawaii and pretends to be a dog to avoid capture by two aliens posing as humans. 626 is adopted by six-year-old Lilo (Maia Kealoha), who names him Stitch because he tore a hole in the seat of a truck that her sister Nani (Sydney Agudong) said will need stitches. Stitch also helps the two sisters come to terms with the death of their parents and heal their relationship. Other than the dead parents, it’s not exactly following the Disney princess fairy tale script, is it?

The thing is: I like wacky. One of my favorite movies (and stories) is Alice in Wonderland, and it doesn’t get any wackier than Alice in Wonderland. No, not the Tim Burton remake (which I also liked), but the original animated feature. Alien-chaos-monster is right up my mischievous-disappearing-cat alley. For the first half of the film, the wackiness is plentiful. Stitch causes all kinds of mayhem, just like he was created to do. Lilo gets in on the action as well, running amok with Stitch, the two of them driving Nani crazy.

The Cast

In addition, the two aliens chasing Stitch provide some Abbott-and-Costello-esque laughs as well. Their names are Dr. Jumba (Zack Galifianakis) and Pleakley (Billy Magnussen), and they are easily my favorite part of the film. Galifianakis delivers a character trying to be serious, but dropping dry humor all over the place. 

Conversely, Magnussen’s Pleakley is a manic and slapstick-like “Earth expert.” Magnussen is having a ball in this role, which is written all over his face in every scene. And what an expressive face he has, perfect for conveying a vast range of reactions and emotions. Perhaps my favorite facial expression is when he opens his eyes so wide they look like they’re half the size of his entire face. Between this movie and his role in Hulu’s The Franchise, Magnussen is quickly making me a fan.

Unfortunately, the film isn’t all craziness and chaos. Remember, this movie is also about a grieving pair of sisters. Nani is also forced to assume the role of Lilo’s mother and provide for both of them. After a meeting with a social worker (Tia Carrere) goes a bit off the rails, Nani is given a week to get things in order or else Lilo will be taken into custody by the state.

Discuussion

Obviously, the chaos from Lilo and Stitch is antithetical to this, always resulting in the worst outcome. This storyline plays out a bit like a romantic comedy, albeit one that is doomed from the start. It starts rather lightly, includes a misunderstanding that leads to a kind of breakup, then ends in a tidy and predictable way. Booo. Bring back the chaos! There are also a couple of extraneous characters that are given so little to do, one wonders why they are even there.

The original film featured a character named Cobra Bubbles, an ex-CIA agent turned social worker. For no logical reason, the filmmakers of this remake broke Cobra Bubbles into two characters – the social worker and current CIA agent, Cobra Bubbles (Courtney B. Vance). Cobra spends most of his scenes trying to capture Stitch, even posing as the social worker’s boss. When he finally does, Nani easily convinces Cobra to release them during the climax with Jumba. Oh, I forgot to mention that Jumba is the villain. I told you this movie was chaos, even when it’s kind of boring chaos.

Conclusion

Despite the uneven mix of stories in Lilo & Stitch, I appreciate that Disney took a swing with this one. I also appreciate the good performances from all of the cast, including Kealoha (surprising from an eight-year-old), Agudong, and Hannah Waddingham (voicing the Grand Councilwoman, leader of the United Galactic Federation who ordered the capture of Stitch). And I appreciate the great special effects bringing Stitch and the other aliens to life. I don’t want to give Disney too much credit – this is yet another live-action remake trying to cash in on nostalgia. But I never saw the original, so it’s new enough for me.

Rating: Ask for three dollars back because there wasn’t enough chaos.

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