Leroy & Stitch
Leroy & Stitch is a 2006 American animated science-fiction comedy television film[lower-alpha 1] produced by Walt Disney Television Animation.[1] It is the third and final sequel film of the 2002 animated feature film Lilo & Stitch, and the television series finale to Lilo & Stitch: The Series. It also concluded the main continuity of the Lilo & Stitch franchise where Lilo Pelekai is a main character and Hawaii is the main setting.[lower-alpha 2] The film debuted on Disney Channel on June 23, 2006 and was also aired on Toon Disney on June 26, 2006.[2]
Leroy & Stitch | |
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DVD cover | |
Directed by |
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Produced by |
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Written by |
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Based on | Characters by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois |
Starring | |
Music by | J. A. C. Redford |
Edited by | Tony Mizgalski |
Production company | |
Distributed by | |
Release date |
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Running time | 72 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
While the film received mixed reviews, it was nominated for the 2007 Golden Reel Award by the Motion Picture Sound Editors, which ultimately went to Disneytoon's direct-to-video film The Fox and the Hound 2.[3]
Plot
With their mission to capture all 624 experiments and repurpose them on Earth completed, Lilo, Stitch, Jumba and Pleakley are honored as heroes by the Galactic Alliance. Jumba is given the confiscated key to his laboratory again, Pleakley is offered a post as chairman of Earth Studies at G.A.C.C. (Galactic Alliance Community College), and Stitch is made the Captain of the Galactic Armada and commander of his newly commissioned ship BRB-9000 (Big Red Battleship 9000). Lilo is made Galactic Federation Ambassador to Earth and sole guardian of Stitch's "cousins". Before they leave, Lilo gives Jumba her favorite Elvis record, Pleakley a paperweight (which is actually an Earth rock) and Stitch a necklace with a Kū tiki (the Hawaiian god of strength).
In his ship, Gantu has decided that since he failed to capture all of the experiments (except for 625), he will have to break Dr. Hämsterviel out of prison. He takes the two-man space shuttle, leaving 625 alone and helps Hämsterviel escape from prison. Stitch is then assigned to recapture Hämsterviel. Hämsterviel and Gantu burst into Jumba's lab and force Jumba to create an evil twin of Stitch, Leroy, to defeat the Galactic Alliance. Stitch arrives and after a fight, he is defeated when Pleakley appears at an inopportune moment, distracting Stitch long enough for Leroy to lock him in a glass capsule. Hämsterviel reveals his plans to clone an army of Leroys to take over the Galactic Alliance. Before leaving for Turo, Hämsterviel locks Jumba, Pleakley and Stitch in Pleakley's ship, and sends the vessel into a black hole.
On Earth, Lilo decides to contact Stitch. Lilo realizes that the only intergalactic videophone on the planet available is in Gantu's ship. There, she finds 625 and asks to use the videophone. However, 625 says it is broken. Lilo then names 625 "Reuben". He thereafter consents to help Lilo. Once the videophone is fixed, Lilo contacts the BRB-9000. Leroy impersonates Stitch, using shape-shifting to disguise himself, but fails because he does not have Stitch's tiki necklace. Hämsterviel then commands Leroy to go to Earth and capture all of the other experiments to destroy them. Lilo, sensing Stitch is in trouble, asks Reuben for help in fixing Gantu's ship. As Jumba, Pleakley, and Stitch head towards the black hole, Stitch escapes and frees the others. However, the navigational computer is locked on course for the black hole and will teleport them to a volcanic planet where they will be vaporized, but if they can disrupt the event horizon by throwing a small object into the black hole, it will send them somewhere else. Pleakley pulls out the rock that Lilo gave him and asks if this will work. After Jumba says it is too heavy, Stitch takes a bite out of it, then crawls out the front of the vehicle and throws it at the black hole. There is a flash and the vehicle is sucked in.
On Earth, a Leroy clone obtains Lilo's scrapbook of "cousins" and quickly captures all of them (including Mertle). Lilo and Reuben arrive at Turo, but they are too late; Hämsterviel has taken over, making the Grand Councilwoman his receptionist, and orders Gantu to lock them up. Gantu imprisons Lilo and Reuben, but decides to release them after Hämsterviel fires him. After a close call with several Leroy clones, they are trapped. All is lost until the G.A.C.C. van suddenly appears. With no time to explain, Lilo, Reuben and Gantu all climb in and head for Earth. On Earth, the original Leroy has herded all the experiments into a large stadium where "Alohapalooza" is about to take place. The BRB-9000 appears and Hämsterviel prepares to obliterate all of the experiments, until a timely appearance by Lilo, Stitch and the others and destroy the BRB's primary cannon. Hämsterviel reveals that he brought along his Leroy army as backup. Stitch rallies his "cousins" and the battle begins. Despite some initial victories by the experiments, it soon becomes apparent that the adversaries are better than them. Jumba remembers that he programmed a secret shutdown command into Leroy: if he plays Elvis Presley's "Aloha 'Oe", the others will deactivate. Stitch appears on-stage in his Elvis attire and plays "Aloha 'Oe" with Lilo and Reuben accompanying him, causing the Leroys to have violent seizures and shut down. With his plan foiled again, Hämsterviel is recaptured and sent back to prison.
Back at the Galactic Alliance HQ, they are proclaimed "Heroes of the Alliance". Stitch, Jumba and Pleakley ask to be allowed to return to Earth with Lilo. The Grand Councilwoman grants this and asks Gantu if he would like to be reinstated as the Captain of the Armada. Gantu agrees on the condition that Reuben be assigned as his galley officer. Back on Earth, Lilo sets up for one last picture. Mertle arrives with Gigi (during the battle, Mertle was with Gigi and was astounded when she found that Gigi was able to talk, being one of Jumba's experiments). Lilo's last picture in the album is of all of the experiments still on Earth, Mertle, Jumba, Pleakley, Nani, David and herself. Meanwhile, Leroy and all of his clones, who have recovered from their seizures, are dancing to the song "Jailhouse Rock" (Hämsterviel angrily taps his foot to the beat). As the credits roll, a full list of Jumba's experiments 001 through 626, and the names they were given by Lilo (and other characters in some instances during Lilo & Stitch: The Series),[lower-alpha 3] scrolls along the left side of the screen.
Cast
- Chris Sanders as Stitch (Experiment 626), Leroy/Leroy Clones
- Daveigh Chase as Lilo Pelekai
- Tia Carrere as Nani Pelekai
- David Ogden Stiers as Dr. Jumba Jookiba
- Kevin McDonald as Agent Wendy Pleakley
- Jeff Bennett as Dr. Hämsterviel, Fibber (Experiment 032), Slick (Experiment 020), Ace (Experiment 262), Remmy (Experiment 276)
- Kevin Michael Richardson as Gantu
- Rob Paulsen as Reuben (Experiment 625), Squeak (Experiment 110), Houdini (Experiment 604), Forehead (Experiment 044)
- Zoe Caldwell as the Grand Councilwoman
- Ving Rhames as Cobra Bubbles
- Liliana Mumy as Mertle Edmonds
- Tara Strong as Angel (Experiment 624), Babyfier (Experiment 151), Belle (Experiment 248), Dupe (Experiment 344), and Pleakley's G.A.C.C. assistant
- Frank Welker as Sparky (Experiment 221), Sprout (Experiment 509), Mr. Stenchy (Experiment 254), Kixx (Experiment 601), Holio (Experiment 606), Finder (Experiment 158), Deforestator (Experiment 515), Yin (Experiment 501), Yang (Experiment 502), Tank (Experiment 586), Checkers (Experiment 029), Slugger (Experiment 608), Splodyhead (Experiment 619) (uncredited)
- Tress MacNeille as Bonnie (Experiment 149), Gigi (Experiment 007), Topper (Experiment 025), Felix (Experiment 010), Melty (Experiment 228), Amnesio (Experiment 303), Cannonball (Experiment 520), Richter (Experiment 513), and the G.A.C.C. van-ship's navi-computer
- Nancy Cartwright as Shortstuff (Experiment 297), Phantasmo (Experiment 375) (uncredited)
- Bobcat Goldthwait as Nosy (Experiment 199)
- Rocky McMurray as Clyde (Experiment 150)
- Lili Ishida as Yuki
- Jillian Henry as Elena
- Kali Whitehurst as Teresa
- Debra Rogers as First Officer Ombit
- Doug Stone as Ensign Getco
Production
The film marks the third film in the Lilo & Stitch franchise without any involvement from creators Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois (besides Sanders providing vocals for Stitch), as they would leave Disney for DreamWorks Animation to write and direct How to Train Your Dragon.[4][5]
Release
Leroy & Stitch debuted on Disney Channel on June 23, 2006 and also aired on Toon Disney on June 26, 2006.[2] It was released on DVD in the United States on June 27, 2006.[6] Bonus features of the DVD include a then-unaired episode of Lilo & Stitch: The Series titled "Link" and a set-top game The Big Red Battleship Flight Simulator.[2] Distributed by Walt Disney Home Entertainment, DVD sales in the United States earned a total of $15,503,113.[7]
Critical reception
Leroy & Stitch received mixed reviews. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a rating of 40% based on 5 reviews.[8]
Skyler Miller of AllMovie gave the film a rating of 3½ out of 5 stars, praising the voice acting, Elvis Presley songs, and "[the] fast-moving plot that mixes frenetic action, sentimentality, and a few laughs." Miller wrote, "While [Leroy & Stitch is] not nearly as engaging or emotionally rich as the original [Lilo & Stitch] film that inspired it [...] all in all, Leroy & Stitch is a fitting wrap-up to an enjoyable animated series."[9]
CinemaBlend.com gave the film a rating of 1 out of 5 stars, stating the film is "just another direct-to-video sequel of Disney with no unusual stuff in it," and further uplifted and preferred the original film.[10]
The website Common Sense Media (CSM) gave the film's quality 4 out of 5 stars and applicable for ages 5 above based on 10 reviews from both parents and children.[11]
In 2019, Petrana Radulovic of Polygon ranked Leroy & Stitch ninth out of twenty-six films on her list of direct-to-video sequels, prequels, and "mid-quels" to Disney animated films, one rank higher than Stitch! The Movie.[12] Despite criticizing Leroy & Stitch for focusing more on the aliens and space over the "charming" characters like with Stitch! The Movie, she ranked the finale film higher than the pilot film because of all the now-united 626 experiments' "wacky and really specific powers", stating that "[w]e get to see what they've all been up to after acclimating to life on Hawaii[...], and see them in action in the final battle."[12] In a similar list in 2020, Lisa Wehrstedt of Insider ranked Leroy & Stitch seventh out of twenty-five films on her list.[13] Werhstedt wrote, "For fans who were really involved with the series [...], this film acts like the perfect finale." However, she also criticized it for "los[ing] a bit of the human charm of the original and the previous [released] sequel."[13]
Soundtrack
Lilo & Stitch Hawaiian Album | ||||
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Soundtrack album by Various artists | ||||
Released | 2006 | |||
Recorded | 2005-2006 | |||
Genre | Rock, country rock, pop | |||
Label | Walt Disney | |||
Lilo & Stitch music chronology | ||||
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Lilo & Stitch Hawaiian Album is the soundtrack to Disney's Leroy & Stitch. The majority of the Leroy & Stitch soundtrack are Elvis Presley records, while other parts of the soundtrack include music inspired by Gustav Holst's "The Planets".[14][15] The soundtrack also contains score pieces from the original Lilo & Stitch film (which was composed by Alan Silvestri) and from Lilo & Stitch: The Series's pilot film Stitch! The Movie (which was composed by Michael Tavera, who was also the composer for The Series).
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Aloha ʻOe" | Queen Liliuokalani | Elvis Presley | |
2. | "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" | Hank Williams | Elvis Presley | |
3. | "Hawaii Five-O Theme" | Morton Stevens | ||
4. | "Jailhouse Rock" | Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller | Elvis Presley | |
5. | "Don't Be Cruel (Everlife version)" | Otis Blackwell, Elvis Presley | Everlife | |
6. | "Aloha, E Komo Mai" | Danny Jacob and Ali Olmo | ||
7. | "Aloha ʻOe" | Queen Liliuokalani | Lilo, Stitch, and Reuben (Daveigh Chase, Chris Sanders, and Rob Paulsen) | |
8. | "Shouldn't Have Yelled (Lilo & Stitch)" | Alan Silvestri | ||
9. | "What's Best for Lilo (Lilo & Stitch)" | Alan Silvestri | ||
10. | "Ugly (Lilo & Stitch)" | Alan Silvestri | ||
11. | "Rescue (Lilo & Stitch)" | Alan Silvestri | ||
12. | "The Big Battle (Stitch! The Movie)" | Michael Tavera |
See also
- How to Train Your Dragon, a 2010 DreamWorks Animation film also written and directed by creators Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
- Lilo & Stitch: The Series, an animated television spin-off of the animated feature film Lilo & Stitch that preceded Leroy & Stitch
- Walt Disney Television Animation
Notes
- Leroy & Stitch is often considered to be a direct-to-video film instead of a television film due to its DVD release just four days after its premiere broadcast.
- The two succeeding TV series in the franchise, Stitch! and Stitch & Ai, replace Lilo with different human girl characters who become Stitch's new best friend and change the setting to other regions on Earth.
- e.g. 007/Gigi was named by Mertle, 613/Yaarp was named by Pleakley.
References
- Laydon, Joe (June 27, 2006). "Review: 'Leroy & Stitch'". Variety. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
- "Lilo Leroy & Stitch DVD Review". DVD Dizzy. June 27, 2014. Archived from the original on July 1, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2006.
Though Leroy & Stitch seemed destined to be direct-to-video, just a few weeks ago, it was announced that the movie would air on television twice shortly before its DVD release. It did that last Friday on Disney Channel and last night on Toon Disney.
- "2007 Golden Reel Award Nominees: Other". Archived from the original on March 25, 2008. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
- "Interview: Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders of 'How to Train Your Dragon'". Beliefnet. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
- "Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois Talk 'How to Train Your Dragon'". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
- McCutcheon, David (May 31, 2006). "Leroy & Stitch Run Amuck in June". IGN. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
- "Leroy & Stitch - DVD Sales". The Numbers. Archived from the original on September 22, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
- "Leroy & Stitch (2006)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
- Miller, Skyler. "Leroy & Stitch (2006) Review". AllMovie. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- Perkis, Edward. "Leroy & Stitch DVD Review". CinemaBlend.com. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
- "Leroy & Stitch Movie Review". Common Sense Media. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
- Radulovic, Petrana (March 28, 2019). "Every Disney direct-to-video sequel, prequel, and mid-quel, ranked". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
- Wehrstedt, Lisa (July 10, 2020). "All of Disney's straight-to-home-video sequels, prequels, and midquels, ranked from best to worst". Insider. Insider Inc. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
- "Leroy & Stitch (Video 2006)". Internet Movie Database. Archived from the original on April 8, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
- "Leroy & Stitch (2006) Soundtrack OST - RingosTrack". RingosTrack. Archived from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2014.
External links
Wikiquote has quotations related to: Leroy & Stitch |
- Official website
- Leroy & Stitch at The Big Cartoon DataBase
- Leroy & Stitch on IMDb
- Leroy & Stitch at Rotten Tomatoes
- Leroy & Stitch at Keyframe - the Animation Resource