Lilo & Stitch (PG) – 108 minutes

In keeping with Disney’s want of late, Lilo and Stitch is a heartwarming live action version of the animated feature that was released in 2002.

Lilo Pelekai is a cute six-year-old scallywag, who runs to the beat of her own drum.

A loner, she has been profoundly affected by the tragic loss of her parents and longs for a best friend.

Now she is being cared for by her older sister, Nani, 18, who is struggling to hold onto her job and keep Lilo in check.

Social services sees what is going on and is one step away from separating the pair.

Stitch, is an alien experiment gone horribly wrong. He is aggressive and used to running amok.

Now, he has managed to escape from Planet Turo, where he was created, and crash lands on Earth.

Two representatives from the United Galactic Federation, Pleakley and Jumba, have been sent to retrieve him.

They have infiltrated the human race – switching from alien to earthlings – and are in close pursuit.

Stitch manages to outsmart them and land up in a pound, from where he is rescued by Lilo, who likes visiting the shelter and feeding the strays sweets.

What Lilo quickly discovers is that Stitch is a wild and impulsive creature.

Nani immediately recognises Stitch to be nothing but trouble.

Lilo, though, is convinced her prayers have been answered and that she has finally found a best friend.

More trouble is afoot, as a CIA agent in disguise is also tracking this alien.

Full of humour and heart, with a surfeit of colourful characters, Lilo and Stitch is a sure-fire winner.

The screenplay is by Chris Kekaniokalani Bright and Mike Van Waes.

Direction is from Dean Fleischer Camp (the Oscar-nominated filmmaker behind the animated feature Marcel the Shell with Shoes On).

While different projects on the surface, Fleischer Camp quickly recognised that both Lilo & Stitch and Marcel the Shell with Shoes On shared the same DNA.

He saw Marcel and Stitch as unusual protagonists looking for family in a world that wasn’t made for them, so it is that both stories resonate at an emotional level.

What a find Maia Kealoha is! She has personality to burn and uses all of it to breathe life into Lilo. Hers is a brilliant casting choice. But she is not alone.

Sydney Elizebeth Agudong channels love, care and frustration with aplomb as Nani, taking on complex adult responsibilities at a relatively young age.

Amy Hill is the girl’s friendly and considerate neighbour Tūtū, always keen to lend a helping hand. Hill is spirited.

Tia Carrere comes across well as a compassionate social worker, conscious that she has to do the right thing by both girls.

Billy Magnussen and Zach Galifianakis ham it up as a couple of bumbling aliens brought to Earth with a purpose, but who can’t see eye to eye.

Kaipo Dudoit is solid as Nani’s love interest, keen to make a favourable impression with her, but failing badly at first by overreaching.

Chris Sanders takes to the task of voicing Stitch, who learns to speak as the film progresses.

I also appreciated the no nonsense attitude Hannah Waddingham adopts in vocalising the Grand Councilwoman, to whom it is left to pass judgement on Stitch.

There is a lot to like about the approach the filmmakers have taken to what is a delightful family movie.

Rated PG, Lilo & Stitch scores an 8 out of 10.