Rent Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2022)

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile review by Mark McPherson - Cinema Paradiso

I will state this right from the start for the parents: Lyle the Crocodile does not talk in this movie. He doesn’t waste time with lackluster attempts at comedy with whatever celebrity voice would be attached to this beloved children’s book character. Instead, Lyle only speaks when he sings. And every time he sings, the movie is a delight of a charming and eccentric song and dance sequence. This is a relatively light story of acceptance, confidence, and family togetherness, so Lyle stands taller against the low competition bar, like in the Clifford movie.

Without that wasting of words, it’s easier to feel for this cute crocodile with a gift of singing. His talents are discovered by the performance artist Hector P. Valenti (Javier Bardem), an eccentric man who has enough confidence for the two of them. Though down on his luck, he believes that Lyle can lift him out of his dry streak. While they perform well together, Lyle’s stage fright hinders their career. No matter. Valenti vows to find work and urges Lyle to wait at home, where he’ll be safe. But Valenti doesn’t return for years, and the New York home soon gets occupied by the Primm family. The family has problems that Lyle can quickly solve with his uncanny ability to hold a tune and dance up a storm.

From this premise, you can probably guess the route it will take if you’re familiar with these live-action films involving animals performing non-animal activities. There’s some wonder in discovering Lyle, suspense in hiding him from scrutinizing humans, sadness when he’s imprisoned, and excitement when he’s broken free. The similarities to Clifford are striking. The good news is that the performances, pacing, and tone is intoxicating enough to make this picture more passable for the older audiences roped into watching alongside their kids.

It helps that Bardem is an absolute joy in this film. Even for leaving Lyle and being led slightly astray by his desire for fame, he’s such a likable character for his nearly permanent smile and irresistible nature when performing. Every scene with him was delightful I would’ve loved this film if it was just a road trip movie with Bardem and a CGI Lyle. Speaking of which, the special effects for Lyle are surprisingly well done. The compositing for his many dance sequences as he ambles about rooms, tosses objects, and interacts with humans is a delightful display for the eyes and ears. The design of the crocodile also walks a perfect line between looking like a believable crocodile but breaking enough convention so that this big beast can compete on broadway.

Lyle, Lyle Crocodile is a suitable film for families, given how inoffensive and surprisingly engrossing it becomes, despite its paint-by-numbers plot. The best scene is by far the moment when Valenti invites Lyle out for a stroll in New York, dressing his friend up in Gators fan gear to excuse his look. The Primm boy asks if this is dangerous, and Bardem assures him that life isn’t worth living if you don’t take some chances. Every film based on a children’s book should have a character as vibrant as this, evoking a greater sense of adventure and charm to sell the fun better. This decent musical could’ve benefited from more music, and fewer sub-par arcs about “Will Lyle ever get over his stage fright?”