Shadows on the Wall | Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

dir Will Speck, Josh Gordon
scr Will Davies
prd Will Speck, Josh Gordon, Hutch Parker
with Shawn Mendes, Javier Bardem, Constance Wu, Scoot McNairy, Winslow Fegley, Brett Gelman, Lyric Hurd, Sal Viscuso, Don DiPetta, Lindsey Moser, Joe Gulla, Serge Burack Jr
release US 7.Oct.22,
UK 14.Oct.22
22/US Sony 1h46

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Gleefully leaning into the silly premise, this musical romp is a proper crowd-pleaser, packed with clever gags, vivid characters and terrific songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. And because filmmakers Will Speck and Josh Gordon unapologetically embrace the most ridiculous elements in the story, there's a surprising level of sophistication running underneath the surface. This emerges in the snappy humour, barbed interaction and some nicely understated themes.

After discovering baby singing crocodile Lyle (voiced by Mendes) in a pet shop, magician Hector (Bardem) raises him in his Manhattan home, betting his house on their song-and-dance act. But Lyle's stage fright ends that dream, and Hector runs off to escape his lenders. Enter the Primm family, with cookbook-writing Mom (Wu), maths teacher Dad (McNairy) and nervous pre-teen son Josh (Fegley). It's Josh who first discovers that there's a now full-grown crocodile living in the attic. Then he has to convince his parents that Lyle's not dangerous. And when Hector turns up, adventures ensue.

Each character is afraid of something, which makes them easy to identify with, especially as Lyle helps them find self-confidence. Speck and Gordon pack scenes with smart jokes that add intriguing angles, keeping grown-ups entertained while the kids are giggling helplessly at the riotously visual slapstick. Even with some dark plot turns, this is a relentlessly happy movie, with an amusingly angry villain living downstairs (Gelman), and his grumpy cat Loretta nearly steals the show.

Perky but never over-the-top performances remain grounded even in the most absurd sequences. Bardem has never been this exuberantly hilarious before, making Hector a likeable rogue who's easy to forgive. In the true lead role, Fegley is a charming oddball who gets noticed simply by being himself, then makes his way through this madcap situation by facing his fears. Wu and McNairy take their characters on their own journeys, which brings these disparate family members together.

Through everything, Lyle is skilfully animated in a mostly seamless way that will make kids want a crocodile (or fuzzy cat) of their own. And because Lyle sings but can't speak, Mendes voices the catchy songs with some lovely soulfulness. Like the Paddington movies, this blast of cinematic joy is impossible to resist, remaining polished enough to hold an adult's attention while keeping everyone in the audience laughing. And its message is cleverly woven through the narrative to be punchy but never preachy: don't be afraid, and if you are, find someone to lean on.

themes, language, violence 9.Oct.22

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