Josh Gordon and Will Speck co-direct Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile from a script by Will Davies and based on the popular children's book of the same name by the late Bernard Waber. While it seems like a silly concept and is, the story is fun and has some great lessons about friendship and overcoming fear.
Hector P. Valenti (Javier Bardem) is a showman who never seems able to catch a break. After being told he isn't original enough, he decides to try adding an exotic animal to his act. Nothing seems to match well for him until he hears singing in the pet shop and discovers it is a crocodile. Naming him Lyle (Shawn Mendes), the two develop an act, but when it comes time to perform, Lyle gets stage fright. Hector goes on the road to make money, leaving Lyle in the attic. This is when the Primms, a family of three who have their own neuroticisms, move in. It isn't long before their son, Josh (Winslow Fegley), discovers Lyle, who in turn helps the whole family discover themselves.
Gordon and Speck don't take themselves too seriously for this film but still deliver a fun, heartwarming story with sound lessons built in for children of all ages. By not being overly directed toward making the concept believable, they achieve a winning combination that works. Part of this is driven by excellent performances from Constance Wu, Scoot McNairy, and Fegley as the Primm family. Wu's portrayal is particularly entertaining to watch. Another positive factor is the changes Davies made in the story to bring it to a more modern audience. It retains the book's silliness but updates it to make it more relatable. Assuming the audience can greatly implement a suspension of disbelief, the only real downfall is that some moments might be glum, dark, or dreary for smaller children.
The special effects for both Lyle and the cat, Loretta, are primarily good. However, some scenes look a little artificial rather than pseudo-realistic, particularly compared to the rest of the renderings. The music, especially the original songs, drives the film and is likely to put a smile on the face of any grump in the theater.
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is light fare directed at children but suitable and entertaining for an audience of any age. The concept may seem a little absurd, but after a while, you get used to it and just join in on the fun.