REVIEW: LILO & STITCH

3.5/5

Stitched Up.

108 Mins. Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Billy Magnussen, Hannah Waddingham, Chris Sanders, Tia Carrere, Jason Scott Lee, Amy Hill, Courtney B. Vance, Zach Galifianakis & Maia Kealoha. Screenplay: Chris Kekaniokalani Bright & Mike Van Waes. Director: Dean Fleischer Camp. On: Disney +.

Stitches get stitches? Not quite. But the lovable alien Stitch is so lovingly rendered in CG, down to the hairs of his baby blue fur, you'll be forgiven for thinking that this 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' like mix of animation in live-action is real. It looks like this crazy creature, giving comfort, is actually here, hugging Lilo as she tenderly kisses his nose in a touching moment. The amazing animation 'Lilo & Stitch' was an instant classic back in 2022, even hot off the Andy heels of the Pixar, digital age of Disney. Walt's wonders proved they could still hit your heart from the cells. And this love letter to Hawaii and Elvis Presley (not to mention his movies there) was as successful as 'The Princess and the Frog' (itself a love letter to the Mardi Gras of New Orleans). Now, this remake shows the live action time of Disney are no dog days, spitting up the hairball of all the hate they received for 'Snow White' and the rest of the Disney princesses. No wonder a sequel is on deck. Charmed, you'll be sure. 

Stitch incoming. Even the out of this world beginnings of Stitch, before he crashes down on the island where he meets Lilo, do not feel alien to us as Disney pulls it off perfectly. Especially when it employs the comic styling of Disney frequent flyer Billy Magnussen (absolutely hilarious) and the great Zach Galifianakis (between some playful fern references) as its henchmen, with another trick up their long coat sleeves. However, the real star of the show, aside from incredible voice actor Chris Sanders' (the original movie's writer and director) Stitch, is the inspired introduction of Maia Kealoha. Cute as a button and a star of the future alongside the sisterly mothering keeping of a sensational Sydney Elizebeth Agudong (a sensational singer and young actor). In support, 'Ted Lasso's' Hannah Waddingham gives us a commanding voice and the great Courtney B. Vance shows up in the perfect suit. Even original voices Tia Carrere, Jason Scott Lee and Amy Hill are here in different, but dynamic roles in this live-action reversal.

Now this Dean Fleischer Camp ('Marcel The Shell With Shoes On') movie (with a script from Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes) finds a streaming and surfing home, pitching a tent on Disney Plus. And before you Kimmel cancel your subscription, you should too for this big-budget, blockbuster hit, in-between binging new episodes of 'Alien: Earth' and the latest season of Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez's 'Only Murders In The Building'. If not just to see Stitch crash a wedding with Bruno Mars (he's not actually here, don't get excited...he's almost out of debt) like Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn. You'll laugh, you'll cry like there's sand in your eye, and you may even hula dance in this tribute to Hawaii like the great Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' for Gabby. This science-fiction comedy classic is the real successor to the 2002 movie that spawned more sequels and spin-off shows than 'The Lion King' or 'Aladdin' (which family guy could forget "Jaffa Needs Glasses"?). This Memorial Day, billion dollar, second-highest-grossing film of 2025 and highest-grossing live-action/animated hybrid in history, hit doesn't forget or leave behind the traditional animation either. Why? Ohana. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Lilo & Stitch (2002)', 'Moana', 'Aloha'.