Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile Movie
Nell Minow, writing for RogerEbert.com, was more positive in her review of the film, giving it a score of 3 out of 4 stars. She wrote: "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is a bit too long for a family movie, with some unnecessary complications toward the end, and it's not quite up to the Paddington level of movie adaptations of classic children's books. But it is a warm-hearted family film with great musical numbers that will make another generation of kids hopefully search the attic on the chance that they might find a singing crocodile."[45]
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile Movie
This warm, sweet children's book adaptation does its "crocodile in the city" story justice but doesn't quite rise to Paddington-level greatness. This isn't one of those family films with wink-wink double entendres and jokes; it's geared firmly at single-digit-age audiences (with the possible exception of Mendes superfans who want to support everything the singer-turned-voice actor does). There's not a whole lot to the plot, making it easy for even young moviegoers to follow along. And there's no high-stakes drama or evil force to darken the story. The ensemble all do their best with the material. Bardem hams it up as an over-the-top showbiz performer who can't crack the big time or convince Lyle to sing on stage in front of an audience. Fegley (Timmy Failure) continues to hone his comedic timing as he authentically portrays Josh, a middle schooler who's trying to manage his anxiety at being the new kid in a new school in a big-and-scary new city. Wu and McNairy (who for once gets to play a nice guy) have their own adjustments to make as Josh's well-meaning and supportive parents. Gelman stands out as the mean-spirited (and appropriately named) Mr. Grumps, who cares solely for his Persian cat, Loretta, and his quiet.
The musical's songs, written by Pasek and Paul, the Academy Award-nominated songwriting duo behind Dear Evan Hansen, La La Land, and The Greatest Showman, are better than expected, showcasing Mendes' familiar pop voice well. "Top of the World," "Take a Look at Us Now," and the Mendes-penned "Heartbeat" are all commercially viable and evocative songs that go well with the soundtrack additions of established songs like Pete Rodriguez's "I Like It Like That" and, of course, Elton John's "Crocodile Rock." Besides the music, one of the tenderest aspects of the movie is the revelation that Mrs. Primm is actually Josh's stepmother. It's all too common for blended families to be portrayed in the media as antagonistic or hostile, so it's refreshing to see Josh feel close to his stepmother, whom he considers his mom. It's too bad that the movie doesn't lean more into the family's backstory or why Mrs. Primm has become such a worrier. In addition to the overt humor of the singing (but mysteriously not talking) crocodile, this is a story about found family and finding your joy, even when things seem overwhelming.
2022 has seen the meme-ification of movies like Morbius and Minions: The Rise of Gru. However, nothing could have prepared the world for an experience as unique as Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. This musical comedy features Shawn Mendes as a singing crocodile named Lyle who lives in a Manhattan apartment. When a family moves into the apartment, their worlds are turned upside down in an adventure filled with pop songs, subpar CGI, and the most conventional story ever told. There are not enough words to describe whatever the hell this movie was.
Considering the full PG rating breakdown above, this parent movie reviewer would not recommend Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile to kids younger than the age of 4-5 years old. I still recommend parents to prescreen the new Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile for animal cruelty for sensitive kids, as well as any questionable adult themes. But with this live action musical comedy still comparable to many of the classic animated film, this more kid-friendly and overall family-friendly film is one that is worth a watch for all of those crocodile (aka Shawn Mendes) fans.
LYLE, LYLE CROCODILE has a strong moral worldview about loving others, friendship and thinking about others above yourself. The main character learns to love others and builds confidence and courage. The movie also has a reference to about miracles. One person is a bit of a shady character, but he does apologize for his actions. In addition, some scenes could be very scary for much younger children when a crocodile starts growling. 041b061a72