Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is fanciful fun for the whole family. This lightweight fare will put a smile on the faces of littlies, their parents and grandparents. It’s a live action/CGI musical comedy – a bit of colour, song and silliness to soften even the hardest of hearts.
Hector P. Valenti (Javier Bardem) is a wannabe big crowd entertainer, the operative word being wannabe. He’s a New York City song-and-dance man with a great deal of front, whose routines haven’t resonated. After being rejected for the umpteenth time from a television talent show, Valenti is told he needs to kick things up a gear. So it is that the colourful, but disappointed, character and schemer spots and walks into an exotic animals’ pet shop. There he finds a cute baby crocodile (the voice of Shawn Mendes) that can sing.
With stars in his eyes, Valenti takes the croc – whom he names Lyle – home and begins working with him, preparing him for his stage debut. Only when that big moment comes, Lyle freezes. The critter gets a massive case of stage fright in front of a full house. As a result, Valenti, who has put his house on the line to fund the show, is forced to move out. But Lyle stays (with instructions to play dead if anyone spots him). In time, an uptight family – the Primms – move in. Young son Josh (Winslow Fegley) fears the big city and the dangers it poses. He’s regarded as a little weird. His mother (Constance Wu) too is a worry wart, while dad (Scoot McNairy) is a strait-laced teacher. While Josh jumps at shadows, imagine his shock when he chances upon Lyle in the attic after hearing music emanating from a grate in the ceiling. Suddenly his life changes forever … for the better.
Lyle becomes a constant and Josh, his mum and dad become bolder as a result. But trouble lurks in the form of a recalcitrant neighbour, Mr Grumps (Brett Gelman), who dotes on his pet cat, but has an antipathy towards fellow humans. And the self-centred Valenti re-enters the picture, ensuring more hijinks.
With a screenplay by Will Davies, based on a book series by Bernard Waber, the film is perfectly pitched at young families. Notwithstanding a few flat patches, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile excelled when it descended into mayhem. Lyle’s interactions with Josh and his parents – including dumpster diving, cooking and wrestling – were particularly noteworthy. And even though I wasn’t totally convinced about the lip-syncing, Lyle’s tuneful pop songs, courtesy of Shawn Mendes, hit the mark. Some of the biggest laughs come courtesy of the cat, which appears to enjoy Josh’s company.
Javier Bardem amps up his portrayal of the entertainer who’s happy to break all the rules. One of the finest moments is when Lyle wins over Mrs Primm and she lets down her guard. Wu plays that up beautifully, while for his part Winslow Fegley readily conveys Josh’s character shift.
Directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck (Office Christmas Party), Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is easy on the eyes and ears and deserves to attract an appreciative young audience.
Alex First
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Alex First is a Melbourne based journalist and communications specialist. He contributes to The Blurb on film and theatre.