46. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

 

Okay people, new plan for how I run this blog.

In order to keep up with posting as I do forget..don't judge me, I am going to post (for movies at least) around the time that I have seen the movie. This makes it easier for me as it is fresh in my mind and also easier on you as there is then no pressure to read a review about what is technically then an old movie. This helps everything be relevant. Okay then.

So Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is an adorable movie. I watched it last night as part of my double movie cinema trip ( I watched Amsterdam straight after). The purpose of this is I was ill last week so couldn't go to the cinema and of course last week tons of new movies were on and I only have so many days in the week! I'm actually going across country to visit a friend at the end of this week, which means I can't watch any movies from Thursday onwards so this sets me back a little. I tried to cram the slightly older movies in before I went away. I was also in Dublin the week before last for 3 days so didn't see anything then, yes I am behind!

Anyway, so Lyle, as I said, is an adorable movie. Very family friendly, full of CGI down to the cat Loretta, but enjoyable all the same. It was tinged with a little bit of sadness and was surprisingly dark lit for a kids film, think DC. But when it was light it was all happy and when dark it was dark in both senses of the word. 

It reminded me of a similar format for Paddington actually. You've got the unhappy sabator neighbour, a talking, or in this case, singing animal (slightly exotic), a family who adopts said animal, and a parental figure who has placed them in said new family's care. It might just be a thing about kids books, they all have a similar theme which shines through when it becomes a movie, but it is a winning formula. 

I am not actually familiar with Lyle. I recognise his original artwork which cropped up during the film, but according to my research Lyle stories have been around since the 60s, which means as a child of the 90s/early 2000s I should have read them. But I don't remember doing so, so to watch this as a kids movies decades later was odd yet familiar, but it was certainly magic!

I am in two minds about Shawn Mendes voicing Lyle. I am commending him as he is an amazing performer and his voice is brilliant, but at the same time I am on the fence about him suiting the part. Don't get me wrong he was amazing, but I just didn't picture his voice as the one a singing crocodile should have. Sorry. But it has happened and it was brilliant so no harm done. I wouldn't change a thing now. I do love a bit of Shawn Mendes music!

The thing I love about Lyle Lyle Crocodile is that despite the singing exotic animal, it is a relatable movie. Mr Primm is starting a new job, he is anxious, he feels like he has lost his moxie. Lyle helps bring him back out of his shell. By reconnecting with his youth Mr Primm gains control of his life again. 

Mrs Primm has tasked herself with looking after her step son and filling the shoes of his deceased mother. She's dropped her cookery books and trying new recipes in favour of filling her every hour with Josh. She's making healthy meals for him, she's walking him to school, even when he isn't there she is planning around him. Mrs Primm has lost herself through her own pressures to be the perfect mum and by doing so has caused a depression that creeps in when her subject is absent. This is a common parental thing. Lyle helps her find herself again. He encourages her to start cooking again and doing more with her day than planning for her family coming home again. She gets hobbies to fill her time and she is happier for it.

Josh is prone to panic attacks and is full of anxiety. He is starting a new school and scared of everything. He even said in the movie that this was a learned response from his parents. His dad was so afraid that Josh learnt to be afraid too. Lyle taught him to be confident and to stop being scared. He tried new things, he made new friends, it was a nice coming of age thing to witness.

Lyle also helped Hector realise there was more to life than the stage. He helped Loretta grow out of Mr Grumps's bad temper. He brought more than just the Primm's together again. This is a feel good movie!

So to give you a very brief overview, our story here centers around a crocodile called Lyle. He is a little special, he doesn't talk, but he can sing. And dance, but mainly sing. A showman called Hector acquired him and they were going to perform but poor Lyle has stage fright and couldn't go on, so because Hector owed a lot of money he had to leave Lyle at his house and go off to earn some money. He was gone for 18 months before a new family moved in. They soon discovered Lyle who brought the best out in each of them convincing them to keep him. Hector then returns, there is a slight hiccup where Lyle gets taken away. A great escape is then planned leading Lyle to come out of his shell and convince everyone he is not a fearsome crocodile after all. Boom happy ending. 

This movie is for adults and kids alike and is actually the sweetest movie I've seen since Rise of Gru. I really enjoyed watching it and I'd encourage you to do a day trip to the cinema to enjoy it. It's a relaxing little movie with great cinematics which are better on the big screen. I cant imagine enjoying this movie as much at home!

Overall then, I give Lyle Lyle Crocodile 7/10. It was cute, it was friendly, it was certainly realistic. Would I watch it again? Maybe, but it might spoil the magic.

What did you think of Lyle Lyle Crocodile? Drop me a comment!