As someone who grew up on Lilo & Stitch, followed the sequels (Stitch! The Movie, Leroy & Stitch), and watched the entire TV series, I went into the live-action remake with high expectations and some skepticism. This franchise isn’t just a movie for me. It’s something I’ve loved for years. So let me be clear: if you’re deeply attached to the original and expect a faithful recreation, you’re probably going to walk away disappointed.
To really enjoy this version, you have to let go of the original. Not because it’s bad, but because it’s just… different. This isn’t a one-to-one remake. Key characters and storylines are either drastically changed or completely left out. For example, Cobra Bubbles is back, but his backstory as a former CIA agent one of the coolest parts of his character—is gone. There’s no Captain Gantu, no space federation drama, and no Sergeant from the Galactic Council barking orders. Lilo’s rivalry with Mertle, which added humor and tension in the original, is barely touched on here. And Nani, Lilo’s older sister, has a different arc with fewer emotional highs and lows. Her relationship with David feels rushed, and the struggles of raising her younger sister while dealing with social workers aren’t explored in the same emotional depth.
But not everything was a miss. Stitch, for one, looks great. His CGI design captures the mischievous charm of the original, and they nailed his voice and mannerisms. You can tell real care went into bringing him to life. That was probably the highlight for me.
Surprisingly, especially for a Disney remake, the movie doesn’t lean into heavy-handed messages or try to “update” the story with modern social commentary. It keeps things light, family-friendly, and appropriate for younger kids. They even left out some of the jokes that wouldn’t land the same today. For example, in the original series, Agent Pleakley’s fascination with Earth culture led to a running gag about wearing women’s clothes. That’s gone here, which honestly was probably the right move. It made sense in the early 2000s, but today it would likely come across differently.
I took my daughter to see it, and she loved it. From that perspective as a fun, safe movie to watch with your kids it works. It’s colorful, moves fast, and Stitch steals every scene he’s in. But as a long-time fan, I missed the richness of the original: the deeper character development, the more layered storyline, the wider universe of side characters. The animated film gave us a dysfunctional but loving family, intergalactic politics, and a beautifully messy world that felt lived in. The live-action version feels more like a simplified version of that world entertaining, but flatter.
So, is it better than the cartoon? No. Not even close. But is it good enough to enjoy as a standalone family movie? Yes. If you can separate it from the original and take it for what it is, there’s enough here to appreciate. But if you’re a lifelong fan expecting a deep dive back into that world, prepare to feel a little let down.
Here is me and my daughter.
