• Release year: 2025
• Director: Dean Fleischer Camp.
• Producers: Jonathan Eirich and Dan Lin.
• Screenplay by: Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes.
• Cinematography by: Nigel Bluck.
• Music by: Dan Romer.

Shotgun Commentary: surprisingly good live-action remake.

Review

Are you one of those people who gets the chills whenever Disney announces a new remake, and not in a good way? Well, you will be happy to learn that this particular remake of Lilo & Stitch is actually not that bad!

There was some controversy around it, but thankfully nothing as huge as Snow White (2025), and the results show that there was really nothing to worry about in the first place. Unless you are intent on getting mad about something, but that is the case for anything in life, really.

The same spirit

Lilo & Stitch was a mild hit when it came out, at least in Spain, but social media and the meme factory have made sure it stays relevant and even gains traction with time. As such, it might not have been your first guess of a remake, but it is not too shocking either. Its message is innocuous yet relevant and universal. It’s all about taking care of your family and learning to see past appearances and prejudice. A lesson we can all apply a little bit more in our lives, particularly against the continuous exposure to content that tries to radicalise and pit people against each other.

The remake differs little from its original source in message, but it does vary in form, especially during the climax. Lilo (Maia Kealoha) is still a girl that gets bullied for being different, and Nani (Sydney Agudong) is still the responsible older daughter that sacrifices her future to take care of her. Their relationship and adventures are very similar, but you will find that the tearjerkers have been tampered with, making them more unexpected, and thus, more powerful.

The main question

But let’s get to the real question everybody is thinking: is ice-cream guy there? The answer is yes, but he looks nothing like ice-cream guy, which seems like an easily-avoidable disappointment that Disney hasn’t really bothered with. More seriously, though, people were very concerned about Pleakley (Billy Magnussen) and Jumba (Zach Galifianakis). And by people I mean a small group of haters on social media. Their concerns were mainly around Pleakley’s fashion choices and their importance in popular culture.

For those of you who don’t know this, Pleakley is an alien who loves Earth and studies it, more often than not getting references and facts slightly mistaken. As a result, Pleakley dresses however he likes, not paying attention to gender but to whatever makes him feel best in each moment, an attitude that he carried through the TV series as well. Apparently, both Pleakley and Jumba have been mostly portrayed as humans, instead of cross-dressing aliens, mostly for budget reasons. Magnussen still serves IDGAF during his portrayal of Pleakley, but it is certainly not quite the same.

Ohana

As for the human drawings turned…well, humans, the adaptation is a lot better. Kealoha and Agudong embody Lilo and Nani perfectly, down to the clothes. Kealoha is a powerful force that drives the film effortlessly despite her age, and Agudong presents one of the most identical live-action versions of a Disney character ever made.

Their family is finalised with the star of the show: Stitch. It is incredibly difficult to make a 3D animation of an imaginary character for a live-action film. Because of this, Stitch is easily in the top ten of this category. It is exactly like the 2D animation, while managing to not make you recoil in disgust or cringe.

All in all, Lilo & Stitch is a remake that Disney can be proud of. If one can be proud of selling the exact same products over and over, that is. The story is completely unnecessary, but it does provide a shot of great vibes, a great experience that is greatly due to its soundtrack, which is kept as close to the original as possible.

Thanks to Disney for big-screen access! Lilo & Stitch will be released the 21st of May.

Advice to take from this movie:

• Never let yourself get distracted while eating ice-cream.
• Pepper spray only works wonders when properly used.
• Sometimes the big red button is not what you are looking for.

What’s your take? Have you watched Lilo & Stitch? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀