The number one family film of the summer is now available on digital so families can enjoy the delightful antics of little Lilo and fluffy Stitch in the comfort of their own homes. This long-awaited digital release includes the entertaining feature film along with plenty of bonus features. Lilo and Stitch once again stole the hearts of moviegoers who loved this live-action remake of the animated classic.
The movie is not a scene by scene redo of the 2002 animated film. There are several differences, however this new version is just as entertaining and memorable as the original film, which spun-off additional movies as well as a TV series. Maia Kealoha truly inhabits the spirit of Lilo as she confronts life with her new friend, Stitch.
Sydney Agudong is Lilo’s older sister Nani who is responsible for Lilo since their parents died. Nani is intelligent, a great surfer, and totally unprepared to look after the little girl and her new bestie Stitch. Juggling her life along with her sister’s is tough, however she loves Lilo and although she gave up her dreams of going to college to study marine biology, she knows her duty is to her family.
Several new characters are added to this live-action movie, including Tutu (Amy Hill) , the next-door neighbor and Mrs. Kekow (Tia Carrere), the social worker. Courtney B. Vance plays CIA agent Cobra Bubbles who goes undercover to track the alien experiment.
Jamba (Zach Galifanakis) and Pleakley (Billy Magnussen) are tasked by the Grand Councilwoman to follow 626 to Earth and bring him back. While on Earth the two take on human forms, however they often glitch back to their alien bodies.
This movie, as in the original, is a roller coaster – a Hawaiian roller coaster – of emotions. There are so many cute and funny scenes that are intermingled with plenty of emotional aspects bringing some laughter, tears and sniffled to viewers, however the finale is comforting. The end of this film is quite different from the animated version yet it is satisfying.
As far as live-action remakes of classic animated films go, this one is a winner.
Bonus Features
“Ohana Means Family: Making Lilo and Stitch” includes comments from the actors and filmmakers. Chris Sanders, who created the original and also voiced Stitch in that as well as this film, comments how amazed he is that Stitch became instantly beloved by fans of all ages. He sees Stitch everywhere – on backpacks, t-shirts, and all over.
Agudong admits she dressed as Lilo for an event when she was younger. This film made a big impression on her as well as on others in the crew, not to mention moviegoers through the years.
As for Lilo, she is a thoughtful and very imaginative little girl. Kealoha was cast in the part when she was only six years old. She was exactly what the filmmakers were looking for. She was not just playing Lilo, she was/is Lilo.
“Drawn to Life” is a feature which describes how this movie is a love letter to the original. The spirit of the 2002 film was embedded in this one. And they went out of their way to cast Hawaiian actors in the parts to make this as realistic as possible while still focusing on the creativity of the animated film.
“Scenes with Stitch” has seven scenes with Stitch commenting on them. They are brief and it might have been a fun addition to the film if the entire movie could have this little fellow commenting, however viewers will have to be content with these seven scenes.
“Bloopers” as well as a few “Deleted Scenes” round out the bonus features.
Lilo and Stitch is now available on digital and will be available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD beginning August 26, 2025.
The movie is rated PG for action, peril, and thematic elements. It is, however, a fun family film for all ages.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.
Images courtesy Disney