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The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Lilo & Stitch lacking in soul
IN the long line of Disney's live-action remakes, Lilo & Stitch joins the class of well-cast, well-budgeted reimaginings that feel... fine. Not offensively bad. Not memorably good. Just somewhere orbiting Planet Okay. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On), the film checks the boxes: beautiful Hawaiian backdrops, a fluffy blue alien and a story about family that still says 'ohana.' But somewhere between the sun-soaked visuals and the CGI shenanigans, the remake forgets to pack one crucial thing for its theatrical vacation: its soul. Stitch is the star (as he should be) Everyone knows that everyone came for Stitch. And for that, the movie delivers. The beloved chaos gremlin is as destructive and adorable as ever, thanks to the returning voice of Chris Sanders, who breathes familiar life into the blue misfit. Kids in the audience are eating it up, laughing, gasping and cheering during every scene where Stitch does something wild or weird. And to be fair, he is incredibly well-rendered. The animation team clearly spent time making sure his ears, fur and general menace translate well into live action. But Stitch alone cannot hold up the film's emotional core and that is where the cracks begin to show. Cast that deserves better material There is nothing technically wrong with the acting here. Newcomer Maia Kealoha brings a spark of charm as the plucky Lilo and Sydney Elizebeth Agudong handles big sister Nani's stress with surprising maturity. Zach Galifianakis and Billy Magnussen bring the expected oddball flair to their alien roles and the supporting cast, including Hannah Waddingham and Courtney B. Vance, fits the puzzle neatly. The issue is not performance, it is purpose. The script feels like a paint-by-numbers retelling that is too cautious to be fresh and too reverent to be impactful. The result is a movie where actors are doing their best, but the emotion gets lost somewhere between the picture-perfect beaches and the galactic exposition dumps. Aesthetically polished, emotionally thin Visually, Lilo & Stitch is a tropical treat. Kaua'i is captured in warm, golden light and the island's natural beauty radiates off the screen. There is a clear effort to respect Hawaiian culture through casting, music and local flavour and while the dialogue occasionally leans into awkward exposition, it is all cleanly directed and competently paced. But polished visuals can not replace authentic feeling. Where the original animated film tugged at heartstrings with its small-scale sincerity, the live-action version often feels like a glossy souvenir nice to look at, but not something that sticks with you. The emotional highs are muted, the character arcs feel rushed and the raw vulnerability that made the original a tearjerker has been replaced with safer, broader beats meant to appeal to a general audience. Film for the kids One thing is certain: children are having a blast. From Stitch's antics to the colourful action sequences, this remake plays like a crowd-pleasing matinee for the under-10 crowd. It is loud, fast and funny enough to hold short attention spans and Stitch remains a merchandiser's dream. For adults or fans of the 2002 original, though, the experience varies. Some may find comfort in the nostalgia, while others will notice that the film, despite its efforts, never quite reaches the emotional depth or quirky sincerity that made the original a cult favourite. It is the cinematic equivalent of a re-recorded pop song, technically competent, but missing the soul of the original performance. Safe, slight and sort of sweet Lilo & Stitch is not a disaster. It is a decent family film that entertains without offending, but rarely inspires. Fans hoping for a bold reimagining or a deeply emotional retelling may leave wanting more. At the same time, younger audiences and casual viewers will likely walk away satisfied, especially if they came just to see Stitch run wild. This is not the worst-acted remake out there. It is not even the worst Disney has done. It is simply another entry in the live-action pipeline that feels more like a product than a passion project. Watch it for Stitch. Watch it for fun. Just do not expect to feel much when it is over. DIRECTOR: Dean Fleischer Camp CAST: Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders, Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Zach Galifianakis E-VALUE: 6/10 PLOT: 5/10 ACTING: 5/10
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Lilo & Stitch': Tia Carrere praises movie for not having a 'little blonde, dainty' Disney princess
At this point we can all admit that live action remakes of beloved Disney films have been more misses than hits, but the new Lilo & Stitch (now in theatres) is the best of the bunch. Starring Maia Kealoha as Lilo, alongside Sydney Agudong, Tia Carrere, Courtney B. Vance, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Magnussen, and Chris Sanders back to voice Stitch, it's a worthy remake of the original 2002 movie. As Carrere and Vance told Yahoo Canada in Toronto, much of the success can be attributed to director Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On), who approached the new Lilo & Stitch with "respect" for the original. Notably, he also really listened to everyone involved with making this film. "I could tell from the beginning they wanted to stick to what was at the core of the original film," Carrere said. "He was very mindful to respect what was canon, but also to put his fingerprints on the characters." "Like my character, Mrs. Kekoa. His mom is a social worker and he was looking at the wardrobe and looking at how she would say things, and consulting with his mom, and I love that. ... It's hard, because everybody's looking at you like, 'Are you going to do this? Are you going to mess this up?' And ... he was so on top of these specifics." For Vance, who plays Cobra Bubbles, there's a lot more empathy and complexity to the character, compared to what we saw in the 2002 animated version, and the actor highlighted that was a response to Vance being able to bring himself into the character. "I've played those kinds of authoritarian characters, and to know the love in the room changes the temperature in all of us," he said. "There's a scene where I'm listening to them sing the song on the hammock and I'm supposed to be there just observing, and making sure that no one gets out of line. And I'm just sitting there listening, and it's like, 'What's going on here? What are those feelings? ... That's not what I do. I don't do feelings. I don't do help well.'" Vance also echoed his co-star's comments about how effective Camp was as a collaborative leader on this project. "He's bringing all of himself, ... that's for me the mark of a good director, is one that says, 'This is my idea, make it better,'" Vance said. "That collaborative nature that he has made everyone feel they can bring their A game." An interesting shift in the new Lilo & Stitch is that Carrere went from voicing Lilo's sister Nani in the original film (played by Sydney Agudong in the 2025 version), to playing social worker Mrs. Kekoa who's trying to ensure that Nani can retain guardianship of her sister. Reflecting back on the character Nani, Carrere always appreciated that the film moved away from the typical Disney princesses we saw on screen. "I thought it was pretty maverick back in the day that she was the thick, brown Disney princess, she wasn't this skinny, mini little blonde, dainty thing that you had to worry that she was going to get hurt," Carrere stressed. "Nani is an athlete. She kicks butt, she surfs, and then to see this embodied in real life in Sydney, who's just a tremendous force. I couldn't be more proud that I was part of this legacy." But so much of the heart of the new Lilo & Stitch sits with Maia Kealoha as Lilo, with a sweet, bubbly and energetic personalty, seemingly both on-screen and off. Vance highlighted that working with an actor who is now just seven years old is about collaborating with her family, and it reminded him of working with a young Elijah Wood in the 1993 film The Adventures of Huck Finn. "I did [The Adventures of Huck Finn] with Elijah Wood back in the day and it was an exact same situation, Mom was there and Mom was like, 'OK son, it's time to go home now,'" Vance said. "It starts with her family and if the family is the right type of family for her in this environment, then all of us go, we can relax, because we know that she knows we're not going to take advantage. Mom and Dad know we're not going to take advantage." "Maia's just magic," Carrere added. "When I first heard about doing this film, as a local person, I'm like, where are they going to find this kid? Because Lilo is such a specific personality." "She is Lilo. There's nobody better than her. She doesn't act like she's precocious, she just is a quirky kid, and she's fascinating, endlessly fascinating to all of us."
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Rakyat Post
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Rakyat Post
'Still Good': 2025's ‘Lilo & Stitch' Balances Nostalgia With A Few Bold Twists [Review]
Subscribe to our FREE 2025's Lilo & Stitch might just be the rare live-action Disney remake that actually gets it right. It's nostalgic, genuinely heartfelt, mischievously fun, and surprisingly grounded. While so many of these remakes struggle to recapture the soul of their animated predecessors, this one embraces it with open arms, thanks in no small part to director Dean Fleischer Camp ( Marcel the Shell with Shoes On ), who brings just the right blend of heart, humor, and weirdness to the mix. © Disney. The story remains as endearing as ever: Stitch, a genetically-engineered alien experiment (once again voiced by Chris Sanders, bless), crash-lands in Hawaii and winds up in the chaotic but loving care of six-year-old Lilo Pelekai (newcomer Maia Kealoha). What follows is a whirlwind of intergalactic chaos, island adventures, and deeply emotional bonding. Basically: lots of trouble, lots of tears, and even more love. I know a lot of people don't particularly enjoy change and stories being fleshed out from the original, but this Lilo & Stitch did maintain so much from the 2002 animated classic, and I really appreciated that. © Disney. It started off pretty much a beat-by-beat rendition of the original, which opens the film nicely and lets us adjust to its classic charm before introducing us to new plot elements and characters. Cobra Bubbles (Courtney B. Vance) is full-on CIA in this one. We get Mrs. Kekoa (Tia Carrere, who voiced Nani in the original) as the social worker. We're introduced to Tūtū (Amy Hill), a Native Hawaiian, as David's (Kaipo Dudoit) grandmother, and neighbours to the Pelekais. Captain Gantu didn't make it into the live-action remake, unfortunately. The additions and changes didn't bother me so much – I mean, if they just copy and paste from the previous one, it would make this remake totally unnecessary IMO. The newer bits didn't take away from the charm of the original, so it managed to strike a delicate balance between nostalgia and fresh takes. ' This is my family. I found it, all on my own. It's little, and broken, but still good. Yeah, still good. ' © Disney. That line hits even harder in this version because the film knows how to earn it. Kealoha is a revelation as Lilo. Equal parts stubborn spark plug and lonely outsider, she brings a layered performance that's all the more impressive considering she's acting opposite a completely CGI character. But every interaction between her and Stitch feels remarkably real, and every hug they share turns on an invisible pipe behind my eyes. © Disney. And speaking of our little blue alien, Stitch looks incredible. 'Dangerously cute,' indeed. Camp and his visual effects team strike a rare balance, keeping Stitch expressive and cartoony without breaking the live-action illusion. His floppy ears, twitchy movements, and soulful eyes are all perfectly tuned to capture that iconic blend of chaos and sweetness. That early wedding-crashing scene was a total highlight for me, and a perfect introduction to Stitch's personality. Sanders' voice performance continues to be pitch-perfect — it's like Stitch never left. Not every character survives the jump to live-action quite as smoothly, though. © Disney. Jumba (Zach Galifianakis) and Pleakley (Billy Magnussen) — beloved alien oddballs from the original — are mostly kept in human disguises via alien tech. It works, but it feels like a workaround rather than a win. © Disney. The film truly shines in deepening the world of the story, especially around Lilo and Nani (Sydney Agudong). Their home feels full — not just in visuals, but in emotion. The community, the neighbours, the little moments and memories that shape their lives are lovingly rendered. It gives the film a richness that makes its emotional beats land that much harder. Personally, I really missed this scene and wish they kept it in the 2025 movie: Kealoha as Lilo would've nailed that one. It's also a shame Lilo's quirky tourist photo hobby didn't make the cut. Good thing they kept the scene of her sulking on the floor, listening to Elvis. Will this replace the 2002 animation as one of my nostalgia-riddled comfort movies? © Disney. Probably not… but will it be for the younger generation who are first-timers to Lilo & Stitch ? I certainly hope so. It might not be perfect, but it's got heart, and that's what matters. Like Stitch himself, it's weird, scrappy, and a little broken… but still good. Yeah. Still good. Lilo & Stitch opens in cinemas nationwide on 22 May 2025. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Scotsman
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Film reviews: The Phoenician Scheme
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Phoenician Scheme (15) ★★★★ Lilo & Stitch (U) ★★ Wes Anderson is the most singular American filmmaker currently working, but his distinctive style sometimes gives the impression he's retreating further and further from reality into his own hermetically sealed world of irony and whimsy. Really, though, his films are rife with human drama; it just seeps in unexpectedly in odd ways. Benicio Del Toro as Zsa-Zsa Korda, Mia Threapleton as Liesl and Michael Cera as Bjorn and Wes Anderson's The Phoenician Scheme | Courtesy of TPS Productions/Focus Features That's true of his new film The Phoenician Scheme, largely thanks to Benicio Del Toro, who responds to the constrictions of the film's mannered style by turns his character into a kind of bemused powder keg who could go off at any moment (there's a repeated gag involving hand grenades). He plays Zsa-Zsa Korda, a business tycoon in crisis who enlists his convent-bound daughter Leisl (played by Mia Threapleton, daughter of Kate Winslet) in a quest to pull off a complicated business deal after a series of failed assassination attempts force him to confront his own mortality. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The resulting film moves at a fair clip as Anderson crams in arch gags, surreal action sequences and his usual array of kooks and crazies, none of which is likely to convert Anderson agnostics, but if you're already on board, it's another intriguing piece of the meticulously designed puzzle that is his work. And Del Toro really is magnificent. First released in 2002, Lilo & Stitch was one of the last traditionally animated Disney films, a minor high point on an otherwise downward trajectory of mediocrity. Now the anarchic cartoon about a genetically engineered alien befriending a lonely six-year-old in Hawaii gets its inevitable live-action remake and the results, sadly, highlight the diminishing creative returns of this ongoing practice. It's an odd fit for live action too, given so much of it is built around its young protagonist, Lilo. Things that work in the animated version are harder to get across with such a young performer and the film has too many complicated digital effects to enable director Dean Fleischer Camp (who made the lovely Marcel the Shell with Shoes On) to keep things loose enough to improvise around her. There's still plenty of slapstick humour involving the digitally animated Stitch to keep young kids happy, but with a running time approaching two hours (the original was a tight 80-minutes) you feel it dragging.
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Lilo & Stitch review: There's no reason for a scruffy alien mutt to exist, but it does and only a grump could deny its heart
In cinemas; Cert G Competently crafted yet ultimately unremarkable, Disney's live-action Lilo & Stitch remake is exactly as you'd expect. There are no surprises, no valid reasons for it to exist, basically. But hey, it passes the time better than that ghastly Snow White redo. You know how it goes. Lilo (newcomer Maia Kealoha) is the heartbroken Hawaiian orphan whose grown-up sister Nani (Sydney Agudong) is struggling to keep a roof over their heads. The last thing she needs is for a scruffy extraterrestrial mutt (Stitch, voiced by franchise chief Chris Sanders) to move in. Lilo adores the errant blue furball, but everyone else is horrified – and nobody notices the bumbling alien spies (Billy Magnussen, Zach Galifianakis), assigned to return the creature to its home galaxy. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp (Marcel the Shell with Shoes On), this wholesome sci-fi comedy sometimes looks as if it's making itself up as it goes along. A little less copying (the E.T. and Paddington lifts are shameless) and a few more original ideas would be nice. Still, only a grump could deny its heart, and there is some fun to be had with Lilo and her disobedient companion. Neither a classic nor a catastrophe.
