A Review of Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile
A movie that will find you laughing, crying, and humming to the melody of Shawn Mendes
Written by Anam Tariq, one of our film writers, and edited by Greg, one of our editors!
From the flamboyant performance of the showman Hector P. Valenti (played by Javier
Bardem) to the admirably melodious voice of Shawn Mendes, who is the voice behind
the CGI singing green crocodile called Lyle, everything in the movie hits the right chord
with its viewers.
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is an American musical comedy film directed by Will Speck and
Josh Gordon and released in October 2022. It is a screen adaptation of Bernard
Waber’s children’s book, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (1965), and its prequel, The House on
East 88th Street (1962). This live-action film is perhaps one of those very few book
adaptations where the film is apparently better, more enjoyable, and more relatable to
the audience than the books.
The film opens with the failed showman Hector P. Valenti, who happens to stumble
upon the singing croc in a New York pet shop. Valenti, with his peculiar moustache and
fashionable gait, gives an electric performance in the film. He is a jovial but erratic
person who sometimes takes wrong decisions in desperation. Valenti plans to give a
duet performance along with Lyle in hopes of making some money and trains him to
sing the song “Take a Look at Us Now”. But things go awry when it turns out that Lyle
has stage fright and they are unable to perform, resulting in the penniless Valenti
eloping and leaving Lyle home alone. The harsh side of showbiz is also what we get to
witness here.
And then enter the Primm family: Mr. and Mrs. Primm and their son Josh Primm
(played by Winslow Fegley). They have recently moved to New York City and take
residence in Hector’s house and of course, Josh soon finds out Lyle. One running theme
in this story is of overcoming fear. The members of the Primm family fear one thing
or another and that is what they and Lyle have in common. But the Primm family and
Lyle gradually learn from each other and are always there as a backbone for each other.
After the entry of Josh and his parents, we go through a roller-coaster ride of emotions
with scenes that make us tickle and then those that bring tears to our eyes. It is the bond
between the humans and their pets that speaks out loud through this second half of the
film. Overall, this film is a family drama focussing on not-so-unique issues but at the
same time presenting those issues in a fascinating, funny, and colourful way with the
periodic songs captivating our attention.
Stranger Things’ Brett Gelman also gives good baddie vibes as the Primms’ discourteous
neighbour Mr. Grumps. This movie, thus, is a fun-filled experience for its viewers.
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This piece was written by one of our opinion writers, Anam. Reach her at @anam.tariq_ on Instagram!
This piece was edited by one of our editors, Greg. Reach him at @Gtomaini on Instagram and Twitter!
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