‘Lyle, Lyle Crocodile’ finds a family

Category: Blu-ray's and DVD's

This live action show is both heartening and a little bit heartbreaking. It has a sweet ending so parents don’t need to worry about letting their kids watch it. Lyle, Lyle Crocodile stars an adorable but stage shy croc who ultimately finds a family that will love him.

Originally owned from the time he was a tiny, absolutely adorable croc by a show business wannabe named Hector Valenti (Javier Bardem), Lyle was raised in a brownstone in NYC as a show biz partner for this magician/grifter/conman. After all, Lyle can sing! He cannot talk but he can sing. Unfortunately once Valenti gets him in front of an audience – a paying audience – the little guy gets stage fright and they are laughed out of the theater. So Lyle (voiced by Shawn Mendes) is left to raise himself alone in the house while Valenti leaves to find his own stardom.

Enter the Primm family, who just moved to NYC. Young Josh (Winslow Fegley) is a fish out of water in the big city. He’s a depressed and shy boy whose parents (Constance Wu and Scoot McNairy) coddle him. They move into the brownstone vacated by Valenti. Their new downstairs neighbor Mr. Grumps (aptly named) is wary of having a family upstairs. He values quiet and does not take kindly to having a child in the building.

Well, one day Josh discovers Lyle in the attic and they become best friends. Lyle opens up a world to the young boy that he never knew existed, and they share plenty of great times together. But what will happen when his parents learn they have a large singing crocodile living in their attic?

It’s up to Josh and Lyle to prove that this scaly fellow is not dangerous. In fact, he is helpful around the house, a great friend to Josh, and ultimately an important part of their family.

But when Mr. Grumps and Valenti come back into the picture Lyle’s fate is not so rosy. Will the Primms be able to prove that Lyle belongs with them? It’s all up for grabs as this delightful, loving, and musical crocodile endears himself to the entire city.

There are plenty of bonus features on the Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K options, and the movie is also available to stream via Movie  Anywhere. With plenty of music woven through the movie, the film is a fun escape for kids. Obviously there are some bizarre aspects to the film. After all, when is the last time you ran into a singing crocodile? But that aside, it’s a cute little story with the message of love, friendship, and family.

Lyle, Lyle Crocodile is rated PG for mild peril and thematic elements.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.