Aside from those trending comic strips on Facebook that depict the problems crocodiles face daily (can’t hold hands with another crocodile because of their long mouths, not having long enough arms to use a selfie stick, or inability to play a violin), I never thought of these reptiles as remotely entertaining in any way.
Columbia Pictures’ Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile changed that notion.
The children’s book adaptation was so charming I am surprised at how entertained I was not just by Lyle the crocodile, but with the entire thing as well. It’s a highly amusing live action/CGI family movie–and the cutest thing one will see in the next couple of weeks (or more).
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is the story of Lyle, a talented crocodile who can’t speak but sings really well. Plucked from obscurity by a wannabe performer, Hector Valenti, played incredibly by Javier Bardem, to be trained as a performer in his attic.
We see Lyle grow from a cute and tiny croc into a teen croc who sings and dances but with extreme stage fright. After Hector leaves to pursue more profitable endeavors after a failed performance, Lyle is left alone until the Primm family (Constance Wu, Scoot McNairy, and Winslow Fegley) move in.
With the young Josh (Fegley) still adjusting to a new chapter in his life, he finds comfort in the friendship he develops with Lyle. But they need to keep it low-key because the discovery may lead to their separation–until Hector returns with plans to give himself and Lyle another shot at stardom.
There really is magic when you combine animals and music. 2016’s Sing remains one of my favorite movies because of this formula. The same goes for Happy Feet and the usual Disney classics.
That magic is what enchants the audience and keep them invested in the movie, unaware that they’re smiling mostly throughout the film, occasionally giggling during certain scenes.
It’s quite difficult to create an instantaneous affinity to a movie anchored on an unlikely character that turns out to be a crocodile–unless you’ve read and loved the books as a kid. But if this would be the first time you’re meeting Lyle, your first instinct would probably be to just go watch something else.
This is also why I think the decision to show the young Lyle singing during the first few minutes was good. It instantly creates that “awww so cute” moment.
Directors Will Speck and Josh Gordon were able to put all the charm in Lyle’s character. The fact that he doesn’t speak was a potential obstacle in establishing rapport with whoever’s watching, but they managed to utilize non-verbal cues effectively.
Combine that with Lyle’s character design, all I can think of while watching is how cute this not-so-little reptile is.
Of course, the next best thing about the movie is the music. The songs are great; they’re infectious and have that quality of being able to tap into a certain emotion when played during a particular scene. It’s not really surprising because the movie tapped the musical geniuses of Benj Pasek and Justin Patel, the duo behind The Greatest Showman.
All original, the songs do more than provide entertainment value. They also provide reinforcements to each of the character’s headspace and storyline, building up with each scene until it’s time to belt out–which proves crucial especially for Lyle, who can only express himself through singing.
Shawn Mendes was a good choice for Lyle’s singing voice. The talent is strong, of course, but it’s the hint of innocence in his voice that adds makes Lyle even more charming.
I feel, though, that there could have been more musical numbers that could have given some scenes a lot more impact. For example, the scene when they (spoiler alert) took away Lyle and when Henri and Josh tried to break him out of the zoo. Those two plot points could have been made even more powerful by a song.
Other than that, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is a solid family movie that has a lingering appeal. It’ll stay with you even after you’ve walked out of the cinema–the songs are still playing in my head.
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile opens in cinemas today, October 12.
You can watch the trailer here:
Photos and video by Columbia Pictures
