The live-action/animation musical is an adaptation of Bernard Waber’s picture book by the same name. The movie’s stars are the animated singing crocodile, Lyle (Shawn Mendes), and his owner, Hector P Valenti (Javier Bardem). While the novelty of seeing a singing and dancing crocodile is fascinating and created slickly, the screen comes alive every time the latter appears as the colourful, ambitious, tough-on-luck magician on a quest to win the national talent show. Sadly, though, Javier is inconspicuous in his absence for a major part of the movie. Apart from these two, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile doesn’t have much to offer. It’s the same tried and tested recipe — the bond between the young Josh Primm (Winslow Fegley) and Lyle, the frightened parents warming up to him and making him a part of the family, an antagonist who gets Lyle thrown into the zoo, and how the family comes together to get him back. The themes of finding your place in the world, going out of your comfort zone, rediscovering yourself, and beating all odds are not new either. But the flick has some hilarious moments — the mean neighbour, Mr Grumps (Brett Gelman), has a Persian cat with the funniest scenes, and a sequence where the gigantic croc wrestles with Mr Primm (Scoot McNairy) is delightful, too. Combining various genres — musical, comedy, thriller, drama, and fantasy — works against the narrative. The movie had big-time potential as only a comedy thriller in the Home Alone zone, but it fails to take off. Some parts are outright odd — jumping in garbage cans and eating food cannot pass off as a free-spirited thing to do or hogging on unhealthy food. Javier plays the part of a lively and ever-optimistic but weak character perfectly, but his charm fizzles towards the end. The screenplay and premise become jarring as soon as the new family is introduced and Lyle has grown up. Constance Wu, as Mrs Primm, is passable, but McNairy has the most forgettable performance in the film. The soundtrack is hummable, and the film will appeal to little kids. But it might not entertain older children and adults.Read more

Sometimes, not finding meaning in everything we do can be rewarding. Animated films, which are totally based on the suspension of belief, depend heavily on the audience’s ability to transport themselves into the world created by the filmmaker. Does Lyle Lyle Crocodile succeed in this? Let’s find out. Based in New York, Hector (Javier Bardem) is a magician who is suffering from work fatigue. With his archetype tricks not working anymore, he is on the hunt for something new, something refreshing to get back on his feet. Meet Lyle, a singing crocodile, who he thinks can overturn his fortune. Unfortunately, Lyle, despite all his talent, cannot indulge in front of an audience. A heartbroken Hector leaves Lyle to fend for himself. Lyle then meets a new family who shifts to the house of the Primms and forges a bond like never before. For conflict, we have a grumpy neighbour by the name of Mr Grumps and his wilful cat (who gives you the best moments in the film). The story is simple, with no surprising moments. Lyle is a likeable character, despite most people’s reservations about a reptile pet. Shawn Mendes's voice makes even a weird-looking crocodile loveable. For the Hindi-dubbed version, Aditya Narayan lent his voice for Lyle. The screenplay is one-dimensional with the writers tying the tropes of the story and depending heavily on the emotional quotient. There are moments that genuinely make you laugh with the heart-warming bond brewing between the youngest member of Primms, Josh, and Lyle. The VFX and CGI work are impeccable, which adds to the experience of watching the live-animated musical. There is a certain innocence in storytelling, which is endearing. The length of the movie works well with the pace as well. However, the inclusion of a reality show angle as one of the major turning points in the film seems bizarre. Then, there is another scene where an initially hesitant Mrs Primms (Constance Wu) starts dancing and singing with Lyle in a matter of seconds like they have been best friends for years. Throughout the course of the film, one needs to remind oneself to leave logic at the door. Lyle Lyle Crocodile’s intention from the get-go is to make sure you are smiling, without thinking too hard. Guess what? It works. Read more