FILM REVIEW: LILO & STITCH (U) RATING: 3.5/5

A warm, wobbly, but wonderfully entertaining ride.

I took my six-year-old son to see Disney’s 2025 live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch, and let’s be honest – in a cinema full of children, there is no greater test for a family film. If the kids aren’t into it, you’ll know about it - through shuffling, whining, and walk-outs. But this screening? It passed the ultimate test. The room was electric with giggles and gasps, wide eyes glued to the screen. My own son? Absolutely enthralled. Not once did he ask if it was nearly over – an Olympic-level feat for any almost two-hour film.

I should mention right up front that I’ve never seen the original 2002 animated film. I know, I know – but maybe that made me the perfect blank slate. I went in with no nostalgia goggles, just popcorn and an open mind. That said, I have seen enough YouTube clips to know when something’s done justice. From what I could tell, the casting of Lilo (Maia Kealoha) and her older sister, Nani (Sydney Elizebeth Agudong), was spot-on. Their bond felt genuine and heartfelt, and the young actress playing Lilo had the perfect mix of mischief and heart that you want from a Disney lead.

Then there’s Zach Galifianakis. Inspired casting. He plays one of the oddball aliens – a kind of goofy, lovable side character with the perfect mix of offbeat humour and wide-eyed wonder. He absolutely nails it as Stitch’s creator, walking that fine line between kid-friendly slapstick and sly wit that keeps the adults entertained, too.

Visually, the film is a bit of a mixed bag. Stitch himself (voiced by original actor Chris Sanders) – chaotic, blue, and genetically engineered to wreak havoc – looks pretty good most of the time, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t notice some shaky CGI here and there. In a couple of scenes, it felt like someone hit 'export' before the editing was quite done.

Distracting? A little. Deal-breaking? Not even close. My son didn’t notice. The other kids didn’t notice. If anything, the little visual rough patches gave the whole thing an oddly charming B-movie edge – like you knew the heart was there, even if the pixels weren’t always perfectly in place.

So, where does that leave us? For me – a parent, a movie-lover, and someone going in fresh – it’s a solid 3.5 out of 5. That might not sound like much, but in the current climate of live-action remakes (where the bar is, let’s face it, often buried under a pile of CGI rubble), it’s actually pretty impressive.

For my son, though? A glowing 5 out of 5, no hesitation. And really, isn’t that who this movie is for?

All in all, Lilo & Stitch may not be a perfect film, but it’s a perfectly fun day out – and one that reminds us why we go to the movies in the first place. 

ESP Rating: 3.5/5

Mike Clarke

Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Odeon Luxe Peterborough, Out Now

Cast: Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders, Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Zach Galifianakis, Amy Hill, Tia Carrere, Courtney B Vance, Billy Magnussen, Kaipo Dudoit, Hannah Waddingham & Jason Scott Lee

Running Time: 1 Hr 48 Mins

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp 

Film Review Venue: Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough

For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux & Odeon Luxe cinemas go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk and www.odeon.co.uk