The history of “Lilo & Stitch” is a busy one. First, you had the original film, which temporarily resurrected the Disney animation studio from bombs like “Atlantis.” Then, there was “Stitch: The Movie,” which set the stage for the animated television series. Apparently, it wasn’t considered a real sequel because Disney released “Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch has a Glitch” a couple years ago. Now, we’ve got another feature-length sequel: “Leroy & Stitch.”

No, this film is not about the perverse and predatory evangelist minister Leroy Jenkins (because that story would be too inappropriate and scary for little kids). This time, Stitch goes up against a new evil experiement created by Dr. Hamsterviel. Leroy is almost a carbon copy of Stitch, his evil twin if you will. And Stitch has to save...

But wait. I’m getting ahead of myself. The film opens with Lilo and Stitch being rewarded for containing all of Jumba’s 625 experiments. Seeing that their work is done, the galactic counsel reassigns all the aliens. Pleakley becomes a professor of Earth studies. Jumba gets his laboratory back. And Stitch is given his own command.

However, when Dr. Hamsterviel escapes from prison, he forces Jumba to create Leroy to help him take over the galaxy. With everyone feeling homesick for the aloha spirit, and Lilo feeling all alone back home, they much join together to defeat the dastardly Leroy.

As far as direct-to-DVD sequels go, the “Lilo & Stitch” films are really pretty good. None of them match up to the original, but that is to be expected of such a creative and interesting film. However, I’ve enjoyed all of the sequels, and I even like the television show quite a bit. That’s more than I can say for the subsequent sequels and series spun off from “Aladdin.” Indeed, the “Lilo & Stitch” movies top the list of good sequels, along with those of “The Lion King.”

I think what has kept these shows fresh is that they don’t try to be anything more than what they are – a silly kids show. I have always loved the science fiction element, and the Hawaiian setting makes the series pretty unique.

The characters in all the “Lilo & Stitch” films are some of the better ones found in the modern Disney animated library. I’ve always been a fan of Kevin McDonald since he was one of the Kids in the Hall, and his portrayal of Pleakley is always hilarious. Disney regular David Ogden Stiers also always turns in a fine performance as Jumba. And while Lilo has been voiced by many over the years, and Stitch is a stock animated voice, they always seem to work in the framework of the show.

The DVD comes with a bonus episode form the “Lilo & Stitch” television series. There’s also a flight simulator game, which is similar to the remote steering games I’ve seen on everything from “The Lion King” sequels to “Power Rangers” DVDs.

“Leroy & Stitch” wraps up the television series but leaves the characters open to more films, which fits nicely into the business plan of these films. In many ways, “Lilo & Stitch” has become a pretty strong cash cow for the Mouse House.



Specifications: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Widescreen (1.78:1), enhanced for 16x9 televisions. English language subtitles for the hearing impaired.