Disney revives one of its most beloved animated classics with a live-action/CGI retelling that keeps the heart of the original while layering in new textures of emotion and realism. This remake doesn’t just rely on nostalgia it re-examines what it means to be family, different, and loved in a world that doesn’t always accept outsiders.
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The film opens in outer space with a comically chaotic trial scene. We’re introduced to Experiment 626, a mischievous, genetically engineered alien created by the eccentric scientist Jumba Jookiba. 626’s destructive tendencies terrify the alien council, who order him banished to a prison asteroid. But true to form, 626 hijacks a spaceship and crash-lands on Earth, specifically on the lush, sun-drenched shores of Hawaii.
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Meanwhile, in Hawaii, we meet Lilo Pelekai (Maia Kealoha), a spirited young girl being raised by her older sister Nani after the loss of their parents. Lilo is quirky, imaginative, and misunderstood by the kids around her. She finds solace in music, photography, and her love of Elvis Presley. Their home life, however, is under pressure Nani struggles to hold down jobs while dealing with a looming social worker (played with comedic sharpness by Billy Magnussen), who questions her ability to provide a stable home for Lilo.
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When Lilo decides she needs a friend, fate intervenes. At the local animal shelter, she adopts what she thinks is a “dog” but is actually 626 in disguise. She names him Stitch. What begins as slapstick chaos Stitch wrecking the house, chewing through furniture, and confounding Nani slowly morphs into something deeper. Lilo sees past his destructive instincts, insisting that he’s not just a monster, but family. Her famous line “ʻOhana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten” resonates throughout the film as a mantra of resilience.
The alien subplot bubbles back up when Jumba and his sidekick Pleakley arrive on Earth, bumbling through attempts to recapture Stitch. Their chase sequences add humor and spectacle, mixing slapstick comedy with sci-fi gadgetry. Nani, meanwhile, faces her breaking point: trying to keep her job, manage a wildly uncontrollable “dog,” and convince social services she can raise her sister.
The emotional high point comes when Lilo, feeling unwanted, runs away. Stitch, who initially only cared about using her for protection, experiences something new loss and guilt. In a rain-soaked sequence, he clutches the storybook of The Ugly Duckling and whispers, “I’m lost.” For the first time, the audience sees the creature’s loneliness mirror Lilo’s.
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The climax unfolds on a Hawaiian beach where the alien forces finally corner Stitch. The Grand Councilwoman demands his return, but Lilo fiercely defends him, declaring that he is her ʻohana. Moved by this unexpected bond, the Council allows Stitch to remain on Earth. In a touching resolution, Stitch becomes an official member of Lilo and Nani’s family, helping them patch together a life that’s far from perfect but full of love.
The closing montage blends laughter, hula dancing, and found-family warmth, reminding viewers that even the most chaotic outsiders have a place where they belong.
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Cast: Maia Kealoha (Lilo), Chris Sanders (voice of Stitch), Sydney Agudong (Nani), Billy Magnussen (Cobra Bubbles), Zach Galifianakis (Jumba), Courtney B. Vance (voice of Pleakley), Hannah Waddingham (Grand Councilwoman)
Runtime: 108 minutes
Watch trailer here
