Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, 2022.
Directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck.
Starring Javier Bardem, Constance Wu, Winslow Fegley, Scoot McNairy, Brett Gelman, Shawn Mendes, and Lyric Hurd.
SYNOPSIS:
Feature film based on the children’s book about a crocodile that lives in New York City.
Young Josh (Winslow Fegley) expresses awareness that crocodiles are dangerous and like to eat people but asserts to his mom (Constance Wu) that Lyle, the titular CGI creature at the center of directors Josh Gordon and Will Speck (written by Will Davies and adapted from the children’s book series by Bernard Waber) Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is different. And he is.
For starters, Lyle is a singing crocodile (voiced by Shawn Mendes) who does not talk. Adopted as a baby croc by aspiring magician Hector P. Valenti (kookily played by Javier Bardem), Lyle is encouraged to indulge in this hobby with hopes that one day they will become a show and achieve superstardom. However, there is one blip in that plan; Lyle has stage fright, blowing the televised talent show opportunity, with Hector losing the house in the process (a misguided move hedging his bets on the exceptional crocodile). Following that, Hector somewhat abandons Lyle to find fame through alternative methods, sending the impression that he only wants to exploit Lyle’s abilities.
Sometime later, the Primm family moves in unbeknownst that the crocodile is still living (and singing) in the attic. Curiously, they all seem to have anxieties of their own; Josh is often nervous about a variety of things (loud noises outside, being late for school, etc.), mom is a fitness guru enforcing healthier eating habits, and dad (Scoot McNairy) stresses over work. One by one, they are initially frightened by the presence of Lyle, who quickly wins them over through a song and dance number centered on one of their hobbies.
In theory, it’s a positive and well-meaning concept that reminds these characters what fun is and lowers their guard, but the execution is often unintentionally hilarious due to the live-action/CGI hybrid nature of the experience. It’s simply jarring watching characters go from terrified to smiling and singing along with Lyle, let alone dressing him up in Florida Gators attire and bringing him out into the public.
These incidents also destroy the rest of the movie’s logic when animal control comes into play, but maybe that’s my fault for expecting any of this to make sense. One can’t help shaking the feeling that all of this would function better in strictly animated form and without obvious clichés such as a climactic chase sequence across the streets of New York.
And while it is understandable why the filmmakers would want to seek out an internationally famous musician to provide the singing voice for Lyle, it feels off that something as rough and tough as a crocodile has the beautifully soft Shawn Mendes voice. Furthermore, it just gives the songs a bubblegum pop feel that never elevates into emotional or moving and doesn’t do much with the idea that song lyrics can be used as a means of communication.
Subplots such as Josh struggling to make friends in a new school or the misdeeds of an evil landlord with a cat (Brett Galman) are either dropped or underwritten without adding much. That’s unfortunate because the digital artistry behind Lyle is convincingly cute with meticulously animated facial expressions and personality.
Eventually, Hector returns like nothing ever happened, looking to see if Lyle’s new friendships and social interactions have given him the boost he needs to perform on stage. None of this is particularly interesting, although it is wildly preposterous, with every scene more ridiculous than the last. There also isn’t much energy behind these proceedings, so it’s mostly a bunch of crazy situations that probably won’t engage viewers beyond the winning design of Lyle himself.
The humor here is also decidedly for children and no one else, so there’s no reason for adults to see Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. Hopefully, this special effects team moves on to something more deserving of their time.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★
Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com
