The 2025 live-action remake of Disney’s 2002 animated science-fiction comedy-drama, Lilo & Stitch is that same story as the early century original, just so much more in your face! (Stitch is actually moderately frightening).
The story begins on planet Turo, where Dr Jumba Jookiba is convicted, by the United Galactic Federation, of illegal genetic experimentation for creating an aggressive, near-indestructible creature with advanced learning capabilities called Experiment 626 – our cutsey, cute, cutey bubba Stitch. Jumba is imprisoned, while 626 is exiled for his destructive behaviour. However, 626 escapes by stealing a police cruiser and using its hyperdrive to reach Earth, crashing on Kaua’i. The Grand Councilwoman offers Jumba freedom if he recaptures 626, pairing him with Earth expert, Agent Pleakley. 626 crashes near a wedding reception and is run over by a tourist trolley before being taken to an animal shelter.
An orphaned Hawaiian girl named Lilo Pelekai is expelled from hula school for pushing her bully Mertle off stage due to frustration over her sister Nani’s absence. Their social worker, Mrs. Kekoa, visits and finds Nani unfit to care for Lilo, demanding she complete her expected tasks in a week.
The film revolves around the story of the two individuals: Lilo, who is raised by her struggling older sister, Nani, after their parents’ deaths; and the genetically-engineered extraterrestrial creature, whom Lilo adopts as her ‘dog’ and renames ‘Stitch’. Stitch, who was designed to cause chaos and destruction, initially uses Lilo to avoid recapture by an intergalactic federation. They develop a close bond through the Hawaiian concept of ohana, or extended family, causing Stitch to reconsider his intended destructive purpose, to keep his newfound family together.
Lilo & Stitch is screening at Palace Cinemas this week. Find out more at palacecinemas.com.au.
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