Lilo & Stitch – Budget of $100 million – 1 hour and 48 minutes
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The Grand Councilwoman called an emergency meeting of the United Galactic Federation. Scientist Dr. Jumba Jookiba created an alien he calls Experiment 626. It’s bright, indestructible, and can evade capture. The Councilwoman asks 626 to prove he has an ounce of goodness. 626 speaks and insults everyone. The Councilwoman arrests Dr. Jumba and orders her troops to eliminate 626. Dr. Jumba laughs because nothing can terminate the creature. Instead, Councilwoman imprisons 626. 626 escapes before the Councilwoman makes it to the ship’s deck. His pod will land on a tiny planet called Earth. Grand Councilwoman doesn’t care because the planet is mostly water, causing 626 to drown. However, he lands in Honolulu, Hawaii. She plans to vaporize the planet until Agent Wendell Pleakley stops her. Earth is a habitat for the endangered mosquito species. Grand Councilwoman tells Wendell and Dr. Jumba to travel to Earth and capture 626 before he wreaks havoc on the planet.
Lilo arrives at her hula recital late and jumps in place. She looks at the crowd and sees that her sister, Nani, isn’t there. Another dancer, Myrtle, teases Lilo during the performance, so Lilo pushes Myrtle off the stage. When Nani arrives, Lilo is gone. Nani rushes home to apologize, but Lilo locks Nani outside. Nani grabs a brick to break a window when their caseworker, Mrs. Kekoa, arrives. Lilo and Nani lost their parents, and Nani must prove to the court that she can care for Lilo. Mrs. Kekoa dislikes the condition Lilo lives in. She gives Nani three tasks to complete in four days, or Nani will lose custody. Nani sits with Lilo and begs Lilo to behave after Mrs. Keko exits. Lilo agrees to be better. Then she sees a shooting star. She pushes Nani out the door and wishes for a best friend.
Lilo’s shooting star was 626’s crash landing. 626 interrupts a wedding before scurrying away. Unfortunately, 626 runs into oncoming traffic. Then, a tour bus knocks him out. The driver assumes 626 is a dog and brings it to the animal shelter. Soon after 626’s arrival, Dr. Jumba and Agent Wendell enter Earth’s atmosphere. They hide their alien identities to blend in with the natives. Dr. Jumba grabs his tools and searches for the creature with Agent Wendell following him. CIA Agent Cobra Bubbles searches the woods to discover who or what left a crater.
Nani’s neighbor, Tūtū, takes Lilo to the animal shelter. Lilo plays with the dogs and finds a cage with bent wires. She looks around, and a blue dog says hi to her. Lilo believes her shooting star wish worked. Lilo has a friend who will never leave and will be kind. She decides to name 626 Stitch. However, Stitch overheard Dr. Jumba and Agent Wendell in the bushes. They were there to catch him. But, they can’t hurt humans. So, Stitch uses Lilo as cover. Lilo’s latest friend will turn her world upside down and test Lilo’s understanding of Ohana.
This live-action remake uses the original as its foundation but adds believable aspects to the film (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Fans of the original can spot the differences. Agent Bubbles and the social worker are two separate characters. Next, Tūtū takes Lilo to the shelter, not Nani. These changes don’t feel like much. However, it changes the direction of the story. The plot centers around Ohana, but the conclusion is more realistic. Nani isn’t a martyr. She is an exhausted teen, trying to keep her family together. Nani dreamed of attending San Diego State University but put it on hold after her parents died. While Lilo’s character is still a cute, perky 6-year-old, Nani has more growth and backstory. The graphics between Stitch and the other animated characters are vivid, life-like, and true to the original. Also, the designers took a lot of time perfecting the moments between Stitch and Lilo. However, Stitch’s interactions with other humans can be disjointed and bothersome. Disney live adaptations have been hit-and-miss in the past, but this film is a gold standard. They don’t change the message for the next generation and provide the touching moments viewers strive to see. There is one mid-credit update scene, but no post-credits.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
What an adorable little psychopath – Grand Councilwoman
You better not be doing any of those tic tac dances – Agent Cobra Bubbles
My name … Stitch. – Stitch
That’s enough imagination for today – Nani
I prefer deranged genius – Dr. Jumba
I’m in town for the convention – Lilo
With every heart in my body, I accept – Agent Wendell
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