One little discovery, one giant adventure! Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile brings the pages of the beloved classic to life! This musical-driven story is adorable as Families will be rooting for this misunderstood loveable creature! As this Crocodile teaches us to overcome our obstacles. Based on the best-selling book series by Bernard Waber, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is a live-action/CGI musical comedy that brings this beloved character to a new, global audience.

When the Primm family (Constance Wu, Scoot McNairy, Winslow Fegley) moves to New York City, their young son Josh struggles to adapt to his new school and new friends. All of that changes when he discovers Lyle – a singing crocodile (Shawn Mendes) who loves baths, caviar and great music-living in the attic of his new home. The two become fast friends, but when Lyle’s existence is threatened by evil neighbour Mr. Grumps (Brett Gelman), the Primm’s must band together with Lyle’s charismatic owner, Hector P. Valenti (Javier Bardem), to show the world that family can come from the most unexpected places and there’s nothing wrong with a big singing crocodile with an even bigger personality.

This warm, charming adaptation truly reinvents the show by presenting a new take on mixing live-action with animation. The expressive eyes and shyness truly capture Lyle’s characteristics and silky singing voice provided by Shawn Mendes, Although Lyle doesn’t talk throughout a trait that is carried over from Waber’s beloved picture book series which began in 1962 with “The House on East 88th Street” Throughout the film we get an understanding of the gentle sweet soul that’s beneath his scaly exterior.

This adaptation tells the story of showman Hector P.Valenti played fantastically with an exuberant performance from Javier Bardem, he’s a man searching for fame and fortune after repeatedly auditioning and failing to round up an audience. Spectacularly he stumbles upon something magical at the pet store, a singing baby crocodile and believing he’s found such a spectacle he raises Lyle with him to perform which ultimately doesn’t go well and Hector leaves his pet at home to seek work out and leaves the family that moves in to discover a reptilian housemate that throughout the movie teaches each family member to let loose. Lyle’s friendship with Josh (Winsow Fegley) who’s trying to manage his anxiety at being the new kid in school and in a big-and-scary new city he’s terrified of the dangers of urban living. These two outcasts begin an unlikely friendship as they bond over dumpster dives and rooftop dinners in the theatre district, Lyle ultimately frees Josh from his anxieties and begins to teach two valuable lessons to Josh’s parents. Katie (Constance Wu) learns to let loose as she delivers a catchy song-and-dance number with Lyle (Shawn Mendes) in “Rip Up The Recipe” and the lovable Crocodile teaches Joseph to unleash his inner animal.

However, everything is not at all musical as below them in the brownstone’s basement apartment is the apt named Mr Grumps (Brett Gelman) who is suspicious of the family and can’t stand the noise from above and he keeps looking for reasons to get them evicted. He’s strangely obsessed with his grump-looking cat Loretta. This cat which is sometimes depicted through CGI is the writer’s tool for plenty of comedic and potty humour that’s perfect for the young viewers watching.

The film is harmless fun and contains plenty of laughs and sweet moments to keep you entertained. The screenplay written by Will Davies allows the story to incorporate the extravaganza pop-rock musical moments thanks to Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the hit songwriters behind some of the greatest movies/musicals such as “The Greatest Showman”, “Dear Evan Hansen”, and “La La Land”. Throughout the film, they collaborate with Ari Afsar, Emily Gardner Xu Hall, Mark Sonnenblick and Joriah Kwamé to create original tunes that become catchy. The soundtrack includes many favourites from the soaring anthem of “Top of The World”, the emotional power ballad “Carried Away” and my absolute favourite the darling duet “Take a Look AT Us Now” sung by Bardem and Mendes.

Under the direction of Will Speck and Josh Gordon, “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile succeeds in creating a fun and entertaining family movie musical that has tons of heart and gentle life lessons. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is now showing in cinemas around the US and UK from Friday the 14th of October 

Your Little Crocs can download a Lyle activity pack HERE!