Ohana means…a good live action?

© 2025 Disney. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios.

Disney's new live-action version of Lilo & Stitch is one of the studio's best attempts at a remake. It captures all the heart and charm of the original 2002 animated classic, while also connecting with new audiences. Lilo & Stitch was a huge hit when it first came out, and I have a feeling the new version is going to be a hit with audiences now, too.

And that's pretty much the cycle of life, classics are constantly updated to attract and be relatable to new generations, while also holding onto the things that made them special in the first place. All the new generations get to enjoy our favorite franchises through spin-offs and expanded universes, which just gives them more…magic.

© 2002 Disney. Image courtesy of Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Lilo & Stitch is a special story that is relatable to a lot of people. It talks about family, the feeling of belonging, and the feeling of not belonging, love, grief, and anger, and it makes people feel seen and less alone. I think Disney did a fantastic job at capturing all the heart and emotion that made the original animation so special in the first place. The performances feel authentic, the scenes are mostly true to life, and the way grief affects both Lilo and Nani is well shown. 

© 2002 Disney. Image courtesy of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Featuring Stitch, Jumba, and Pleakley.

They did make a couple of changes to the plot, like removing the villain Captain Gantu. In the original film, Gantu was the one responsible for the plot's dramatic twist. Instead, they focused on Pleakley, a one-eyed green alien, and Jumba Jookiba, a big "evil" scientist. Their mission is to capture Stitch and bring him back to fulfill his sentence. As the movie goes on, these two basically become the bad guys as they chase Stitch, but they're written in such a way that makes them also seem more clumsy and nice rather than actual villains.

This new version of the story is almost as if it was told from Stitch's perspective, which is a cool way of switching things up and keeping the audience engaged. When you watch it, you'll experience a bit of everything; from chaotic messes to quiet, emotional moments. And be warned: I might or might not have shed a couple of tears at some point, so it might be a good idea to bring some tissues with you.

Now, can we talk casting? Chris Sanders is returning to lend his voice to Stitch once more! It's been years since he left Disney, but he's back to bring all of the Lilo and Stitch fans into the theater. It's a special touch that I think added value into this score. And following that subject, I've seen that there's been a lot of talk about whether Stitch is cute enough, and I have to say, I he most definitely is, he is supposed to be an alien so I think they nailed that design. In fact, I thought this version of Stitch was much less destructive than the animated one. 

© 2025 Disney. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios.

We also have Maia Kealoha's performance which is something to talk about, a true gift. She brings Lilo to life in a way that's both hilarious and genuine. We can really see the funny, unique, and totally chaotic side of Lilo as a kid dealing with grief and also figuring out her developing relationship with her sister Nani who is now more of a mom to her.

Talking about Nani, Sydney Agudong gave us a great performance in the movie and somewhat different from the original film, Here she gave us a realistic performance of what would be a 19 year old who is already going through what one goes at that age, while also dealing with her whole world collapsing on top of her and demanding her to rebuild it. Only this time it's not just for her but also her little sister. The way the two of them interact with each other is so well done, they're both flawed human beings, but their love for each other is strong and unique, just like sisters love always is.

Photo : Matt Kennedy/Disney

This film is a tribute to the original. It feels like a fresh way for all those who grew up with the animated version to experience it, and for all the new ones to discover it. It's good to see a film that feels like it was made with love and care, not just to make money.

There’s always things one can find to critique, but out of all the live actions, Disney really made this one work, and well "Ohana" isn't about perfection, it's about sticking together, accepting our imperfections, and choosing each other, alien DNA and all.

xoxo, Galia Thibaut, Film Columnist Intern