LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE

US, 2022, 106 minutes, Colour.

Javier Bardem, Shawn Mendez, Winslow Fegley, Constance Wu, Scoot McNairy, Brett Gelman.

Directed by Josh Gordon, Will Speck.

A show for the family. Actually, a family show, Dad, girls high school maths teacher – and champion wrestler from college days (Scoot McNairy), Mother, a cook, writer of recipe books (Constance Wu) and Josh, a timid boy who comes out of himself, rather astoundingly (Winslow Fegley), a litigious, grumpy neighbour and his special cat, Loretta. Who could ask for anything more? Well, probably, a young daughter to complete the family image – although Josh does have a friend and she comes good to help for the climax.

Most audiences will willingly suspend disbelief about a singing crocodile, sweetly serenading with the voice of Shawn Mendez.

And, of course, there is a Lyle. This is a film version of a series of popular children’s novel is written in the 1960s by Bernard Waber.

But, first, we meet a wood-be-successful magician, Hector. And, he is in the surprising form of Javier Bardem, unlike his roles in earlier Spanish dramais and, indeed, the opposite of his bond villain (Sky full) and definitely of his Oscar-winning sinister performance in No Country for Old Men. He is better at singing and vaudeville dancing turns than in being a magician.

And Lyle. Hector, looking for an exotic animal for his act, here’s little Lyle, baby crocodile, singing in a cage in the shop. Just the trick – but Lyle get stage fright and the act is an instant flop.

Hector disappears from the story for a while with the Primm family moving to his New York brownstone building (with a large attic now housing a much larger Lyle). Some initial scares but Lyle has a song for everyone, transforms everybody’s lives, of course, and becomes part of the family. But the grouchy neighbour down stairs is still complaining.

Reappear Hector, reunion with Lyle. But stagefright prevails – and Lyle finds himself in a cage with crocodiles of the Zoo. Build up to a lively climax, no spoiler in revealing that Lyle sings again, for a television talent show – and brings the house down. Formerly timid Josh is there on stage urging on Lyle on.

As mentioned, a show for the family (though wondering about the teen audience, but they might identify with Lyle, especially his disruptions).

The composers created the songs for The Greatest Showman. Now, they can add to their credits: The Greatest Showcrocodile.

1. The popularity of the stories in the 1960s? 21^st-century adaptation? With songs and dances?
2. Audience willing disbelief about her singing crocodile! Audiences responding to the little Lyle, singing, the shop, being taken in by Hector, singing, enthusiastic, preparing for the performance, on stage, the deal with the manager, stage fright, flop?
3. The New York settings, 88th Street, the brownstone building from the past, attic, rooms, at home? The high school and the classroom? The outings in New York, the streets, the taxi? New York atmosphere? The musical score?
4. The range of songs, for Hector and Lyle, for Josh, for the rest of the family, the final performance and everybody joining in?
5. Hector, would-be magician, his bad acts, the pigeons in his coat, his trying for a better act, going to the animal shop, hearing Lyle, buying him, bringing him home, bonding with him, their singing, training him to sing, the preparation for the show, Hector and his finances, the deal with the manager, the big audience, Lyle and stagefright, the curtain coming down? Hector disappearing?
6. 18 months later, the house, the family coming in, settling in, Josh and his timidity, his phone and timing his journey to school, with his mother? His father wanting wrestling? The wrestling scenes and Josh being thrown around? Dad and his work at the school, the rowdy girls, maths? His background of being wrestling champion? Mother, cookbooks, health, the chocolate cherries and throwing them out…?
7. Josh, the sounds of night, discovering Lyle, scared at first, then bonding, out the window and down the stairs, the pursuit, catching him, Lyle leading him home? Josh and his using the route to school, his mother upset? Good timing? Confident?
8. Mother, discovering Lyle, upset? Later Dad and Lyle, expected scares?
9. The grumpy neighbour, the estate agent, his threatening the law and lawyers? His pet cat? His wanting quiet, the scenes of his being disturbed, the disappearance of Loretta, his threats? Gathering everyone together, Hector arriving and exposing him? Going to the court, Hector with the 19^th century document, everybody able to stay, and Loretta going with the family? The grouch insulting the judge and getting the verdict against him?
10. Family life with Lyle, Lyle upstairs, in the bath, singing? Never talking? But understanding and nodding? The exhilaration of the trip around New York City in the taxi?
11. Hector returning, bonding with Lyle, planning a new show, the training, the costumes? Lyle reluctant? Hector upset, ringing the zoo, their taking Lyle to the zoo, with the other crocodiles, the family visiting? Josh planning the escape?
12. Lyle getting out of the Zoo, Josh and the TV station, his girlfriend and her letting them in, the mocking of the other children? The program, the audience?
13. Lyle coming on stage, people frightened, Josh singing, encouraging Lyle, his beginning to sing, enthusing, the duo, everybody joining in, the children dancing, the host happy?
14. Hector’s return, in court with the document, enabling them to stay in the house – even with a pet of their choosing?
15. Happy ever after – or, perhaps, a sequel?