The A-Listers Talk About Lilo & Stitch (2025)
From the couple who see a lot of movies because they have AMC A-List.
Patrick: Welcome back to The A-Listers! Taylor, we covered the original Lilo & Stitch on our podcast Y2Kidz and realized it was one of the better (if not the best) Disney 2D flicks from this millennium. How did you feel about a "live-action" remake?
Taylor: I think the original is truly bulletproof. Everything about it just hits! It's thematically rich, the characters are super memorable and lovable, and it is, in my opinion, one of the more effective and honest stories that Disney has ever made. While I didn't feel the need for a remake because my nostalgia is already rooted in the original, I can also recognize that we need to get folks to the theater! For many, a live-action movie is more appealing. Also, this story is just as timely and vulnerable as it was when it was written, and if a live-action remake is what keeps it in the cultural zeitgeist for years to come, so be it!
Patrick: Stitch is as relevant as ever, largely thanks to the merchandising presence (we have two Stitch Squishmallows!) and universal appeal - as examined in this super interesting New York Times piece everyone should read. As for getting people in the theater, I'm with you. This was the only family movie playing during this three-day holiday weekend and our auditorium was packed. Was that partially because there was nothing else for children? Maybe! But the little girl next to me kept saying "Stitch movie Stitch movie Stitch movie" as the Disney logo came up - and I was the age she is now when the the original came out. That's staying power!
Taylor: I just can't express enough how much I love this story. If I had to pick one Disney story to stand the test of time, this would be it! The staying power feels like a legitimate win to me. Like, "Yes! We got this one right!"
Patrick: So, what did you think? The public reception spooked me a little...
Taylor: You know, this got a lot of crap. And to be honest, I expected that it would. There is, to many, a "Disney live action remake" problem and I don't entirely disagree with that, especially in cases like this when the 2D version is just so good and doesn't really need anything to make it better. But that said... I enjoyed every minute! It's not perfect. But I laughed, and I cried (like a lot), and I felt BIG! So it's hard for me to sit here and complain too much.
Patrick: I agree! After running through their back catalog, which they largely butchered, Disney has now moved on to movies that aren't even that old. It's easy to compare because the original is still fresh in our minds. But that didn't stop me from enjoying this! It felt like the original while still being its own thing. And I just like it when Stitch goes on his little tirades! Sue me! Were there any highlights for you?
Taylor: This might sound obvious, but to me, the best parts of the film were when it was a straight-up remake! Seeing an ADORABLE Lilo (played by the equally adorable Maia Kealoha) lock herself inside and listen to Elvis? Or use Stitch's mouth as the record speaker? Or leave a sandwich for Pudge? I mean, you couldn't PAY ME to wipe the goofy grin off my face!
Patrick: I agree. Maybe it's a rehash, but it's nostalgia bait that we fell for. Don't get me wrong, it's occasionally pretty bad. You can tell that about half of the script was rewritten after filming wrapped because you rarely see lips moving. And I didn't need Jumba to be the villain. And I desperately needed, just like so many, Pleakley in his female disguises. But it's never terrible, like the remakes ofThe Lion King or Aladdin, and I think that's an important distinction. Hell, I even liked that they got some folks to come back! This isn't Disney+ crap! Even though it does sometimes feel like it...
Taylor: If you're going to go into this Lilo & Stitch nitpicking its many technical flaws, you definitely won't have a good time. I'm typically not the most astute spotter of these things and yet I spotted plenty. But you're right that it feels like it's in its own league of live-action remakes. I think that's because this story is personal for so many. It has to be done tenderly because it's tender in nature.
Patrick: Speaking of...let's end this by talking about the movie's ending, so spoilers. Did you know that it's become quite controversial that Nani goes off to school in San Diego? Like...people are ripping her (a fictional character) apart...
Taylor: You can't pour from an empty cup. Nani is investing in herself and her future. No, their futures! And I'd go to if I could leave Lilo in the care of trusted family friends AND zap a portal back home to say goodnight every evening. It's fiction, after all! This question also reminds me of a larger thought on the film, one that I actually think further justifies her going to college. In the original, Nani doesn't have it all together all the time, but she is seemingly doing well enough for the majority of the film. Or, at the very least, there is less time spent on how much she doesn't have it together. In this remake, I feel like it was abundantly apparent (with no fault to Nani) that even with her village... she was not capable of raising Lilo in a way that was conducive to either of them in the long run. So sue me, but I actually think that for this new, updated story...this ending is the best for everyone. Again, THERE IS A PORTAL, PEOPLE!
Patrick: The portal saved it! I almost agreed with those people because Lilo is little and blah blah but then THE PORTAL. Perfect. And by perfect, I mean Make Three Stars Movies Great Again!
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