Lilo & Stitch (2025)

The review finds the film far more successful than recent Disney remakes like Snow White, commending the care taken with Hawaiian culture, the strong cast and the seamless blend of live-action and CGI that delivers cross-generational fun.

The critic calls this one of the best Disney live-action remakes, praising its energetic direction by Dean Fleischer Camp and the unlikely bond between Lilo and Stitch that gives it the charm of an 1980s Amblin movie.

The critic calls the film a funny, sweet but pale imitation of the 2002 original, noting its reverent faithfulness leaves it feeling lesser despite tweaks that boost the sisterly relationship and Hawaiian elements. The strong human cast, led by Maia Kealoha and Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, is singled out for praise amid complaints about softened edges and woolly emotional beats.

The critic finds the remake tames the original's feral edges into a breezy family comedy but still calls it a fine, lively and colourful specimen led by a charming child performance. They single out the fresh outdoor vibe and solid creature-feature execution.

The critic deems the live-action remake a ghastly misfire and unnecessary monstrosity that fails to capture the original's charm and raw emotion. They single out the poor handling of the story's rhythm and the diminished portrayal of the characters' pain and performances.

The critic calls the remake a mind-numbing abomination and swansong for lazy Disney live-action remakes that traps the story in a frame-by-frame trap with charmless CGI. They single out the unfunny alien buddy comedy and the parasite-like Stitch as major complaints.

Despite good intentions, this live-action remake proves why animation is often the better medium as the story feels instantly less magical when forced into the real world.

The remake isn’t bad but feels largely pointless and less vibrant than the animated original. The critic singles out the missing tonal edge, biting comedy, and subtle commentary on Hawaiian tourism.

The live-action remake is faithful enough to the original to please traditionalists and tweaked enough to feel somewhat fresh. It will engage the kids but exhaust the parents with its visual chaos and padded runtime.

The live-action remake is mostly serviceable and often adorable but leaves behind the best parts of the original. The critic singles out the lack of visceral emotional wallop present in the director’s prior work.

The remake delivers the same laughs and heart as the 2002 original but feels tame and familiar overall. The critic singles out the less appealing live-action leads and the overly photorealistic CG design of Stitch.

The remake is a shrill, soulless imitation of the beloved original that loses its magic and charm despite being often ruthlessly faithful in plot points. It feels frantic, insistent, and often unfunny.

The film stays true to the spirit of the original while making practical changes that work, with strong chemistry between the young leads and deeper emotional development for Nani. Some disjointed plotting and a clunky third act prevent it from being the best Disney live-action remake.

The critic finds the live-action remake adorable and heartfelt but aggressively safe, softening the original's sharper edges while delivering a solid but unadventurous family film that plays it too cautiously.

The critic describes the live-action remake as a sweet but sluggish adaptation that mostly stays faithful to the original while updating for modern times, but finds it lacking in humor and feeling like a direct-to-TV effort. It succeeds as a warm tribute to unconventional family bonds.