Does Disney’s ‘Lilo & Stitch’ live-action remake do justice to the original?

Lilo and Nani’s dynamic was beautifully portrayed by Maia Kealoha and Sydney Agudong. The two fight and reconcile like sisters, and anyone with siblings can attest to the accuracy of their chemistry. As Nani is forced into a parental role over Lilo, audiences start to see the two sides of a fractured family. One toils to ensure the safety and custody of their loved one, while the other finds it hard to fit in. When the two are brought closer together through Stitch, it begins to unlock some deep seated memories that have resided in us since the original came out in 2002—one of belonging and home. 

Longtime fans of the 2002 movie have expressed their discontent with the removal of Captain Gantu—the original’s main antagonist. While the director has said that his character doesn’t translate well in live-action, the way they approached the change in plot left much to be desired. To compensate for the lack of a villain, this iteration of Lilo & Stitch decided to make Jumba the bad guy, which left a sour taste in my mouth. The original Jumba was whimsical in his pursuit of Stitch and even subtly made sure Lilo wouldn’t get hurt. By the end of the animated film, he transforms from an evil genius-hunter to an uncle who wears floral button-up shirts. This isn’t seen in the live-action and does not do justice to the beloved character.

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Another jarring change is the seemingly lazy adaptation of Jumba and Pleakly on screen. In 2002, we saw Pleakly don a multitude of outfits to blend in; today, the unlikely duo has a device to change their appearances into their voice actors. Many fans looked forward to seeing a live-action alien dressed in drag and were left disappointed as we were given a token scene of Pleakly wearing a cowboy outfit on the alien ship. Another point of criticism is Jumba’s voice, which sounded like a normal man. He didn’t have the thick accent from the original, and made it hard to take him seriously as a mastermind on the hunt for his most dangerous experiment.

It seems as though Disney is still trying to find its footing in translating their animated classics into live-action. Their previous entry, Snow White, stuck to the script too closely, leaving no room for creative development, while Lilo & Stitch forgot its roots. The idea of ohana is something ingrained in those who have seen the 2002 film as children, and to have Nani leave Lilo behind feels like a step back from that. In addition, the live-action withdraws from its own word by giving Nani a portal gun, allowing her to see Lilo any time. This decision makes it difficult to accept the resolution, as it feels like an excuse to keep fans happy.

There were a number of elements that could have been done better, and the changes in the source material work if you suspend your nostalgia enough. If this is your introduction to the iconic movie, then without a doubt, you’ll enjoy it. Overall, the film can be described with one of Stitch’s iconic lines, “It’s little and broken, but still good.” 

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