Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is now in theaters.
A crocodile can’t live in a house…? Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile That’s exactly the question the Primm family asks when they move into a new New York apartment to find an alligator that lives in the attic. A cute and quirky story about finding your place in the world, based on the classic children’s picture books by Bernard Weber. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile has some charming bags and some ridiculously catchy tunes. Seriously, your kids will sing along for days.
Throw in some silly gags and a really heartwarming storyline and it all becomes a family movie that makes everyone smile.
Lyle (Shawn Mendes) is, well… Crocodile. It’s not even what you’re talking about – a sing Crocodile. He is discovered in the back of a pet shop by Hector P. Valenti (Javier Bardem), a vaudeville-style entertainer desperate for his big break. But while Lyle’s soothing timbre is music soothing to Hector’s ears, it has its pitfalls. Lyle suffers from stage fright. But Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile isn’t just Crocodile finding his voice. He also helps the Primm family find theirs.
See, after Hector is back on the road, Lyle ends up living in his attic…and when the Primm family takes over Leith, it’s exactly the kind of fun, antics-filled setup you’d expect. , not so original. That said, Lyle, Lyle and Crocodile tackle the well-worn story with a new sensibility that makes Lyle more than just a cartoon foil for his family.
Lyle speaks in song, so Mendez is perfect for the role, and no actual acting is required. Still, he’s a very friendly kind of crocodile, helping each prim to embrace life and live it his own way. It’s cute and sentimental, but it really works. Lyle is clearly the star of the show, so cute with his wide-eyed, hopeful innocence. That said, Primms each brings their own desires and struggles to the table, elevating them to more than just children’s movie caricatures.
Josh (Winslow Fegley) is a boy who struggles to socialize. It gets ten times worse for him when he’s forced to start a new school and make new friends, but Lyle helps the self-proclaimed weirdo find his feet. Lyle and Josh’s father Joseph (Scoot McNairy)’s hilarious “fight” scene finds his inner strength useful when a high school teacher has to deal with rowdy kids at his new school helps.
“
Likewise, Javier Bardem nails it as the surprisingly eccentric but down-on-his-luck Hector. One might argue that Bardem’s acting has a lot of charm and that he steals every scene he appears in. absolutely. But happily.
One big surprise comes in the form of Brett Gelman as Mr. Gramps.yes from murray stranger things A constant grumpy neighbor in the family. He is a mean meddlesome that you hate. And his looks help balance out the film, so he’s not addictively sweet.
Directors Will Speck and Josh Gordon put together a whimsical take on the classic children’s book about standing on two legs. A sharp script with a modern twist by writer William Davis gives Lyle, Lyle and Crocodile just enough of an edge to keep things interesting. Children adore toe-tapping musical numbers.
Mendes may not do actual acting, but he many of hard work on the movie soundtrack. Take A Look At Us Now is a real highlight. It’s the kind of earworm you’ve been trying to get rid of for weeks. But you better give up, it’s not going anywhere.
Lyle, Lyle, and Crocodile is less original, but many genuinely moving moments underpin a well-crafted and whimsical tale of belonging. Speck and Gordon walk a fine line between heartwarming and overly mushy, but their quirky tone and sharp script keep things from getting overly emotional. And Bardem actually sings as an aging showman, while Mendes nods with a true crowd-pleasing hit. This alligator rocks and kids will love him.