Lilo & Stitch: film you should watch while hugging your pet

And finally: I watched the new Lilo & Stitch remake.

I’ve always loved the original. That quiet little film lived inside me since childhood — all about loneliness, friendship, and the kind of unconditional love that doesn’t need to be earned. I went in expecting a light nostalgic evening with cartoons and candy. Instead, I got a knife in the heart.

The plot hasn’t changed: Lilo, a lonely little girl bullied at school, has no parents, no friends, and a big sister doing everything she can to keep their fragile life from falling apart. At one point, Lilo literally prays aloud: “God, please send me a friend.” And from the sky comes this chaotic, violent alien creature — part mole, part dog — who breaks everything and heals everything.

The actress playing Lilo this time is brilliant: not your typical cute, glossy Hollywood kid, but wonderfully weird and textured. She’s awkward, stubborn, big-eared, constantly on the verge of tears — in short, completely perfect.

Attaching a recent photo of my own personal Stitch — Timofey the dog. He may not have antennae (or maybe he’s just hiding them), but he does have the temperament of a small destructive alien. Which, obviously, is why we love him.

If you’re in the mood to cry, hug your inner Stitch, or call your younger siblings just to say hi — I genuinely recommend it.