Lilo & Stitch” has grown from a modestly successful animated movie into one of Disney’s most popular franchises in toy stores, on streaming and in social-media memes. Its titular alien is such a Hollywood powerhouse that he has made Tom Cruise an underdog at the box office.

I sound like a broken record; whenever I review these Disney remakes, I say they’re an unnecessary cash grab. Even if I like the film, as I did with “ The Little Mermaid ,” I still conclude that corporate greed is the sole reason for its existence.

Family means no one gets left behind. That seems to be Disney's motto when it comes to adapting their animated hits into new live-action vehicles (though they do appear to be pumping the brakes) to varying degrees of success.