Review: 'Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile' rides on Javier Bardem's acting supremacy assisted by a saccharine tonality

From Shawn Mendes being the voice of adorable Lyle - the crocodile to looking at Academy Award winner Javier Bardem doing things you never in your wildest thoughts imagined, here is what I thought of Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile as I had the opportunity to watch it-

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

To be doing a musical comedy with all heart in 2022 is an uphill task - one that director duo Will Speck and Josh Gordon are well aware of as they try to insert little nuggets of living in today's world in the storyline of Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. From Shawn Mendes being the voice of the adorable Lyle - the crocodile to looking at Academy Award winner Javier Bardem doing things you never in your wildest thoughts imagined, here is what I thought of Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile as I had the opportunity to watch it-

The Javier Bardem Supremacy

The Javier Bardem Supremacy

We are talking about an absolute legend here. Bardem is an Academy Award winner and the image that he has left when it comes to an iconic character for the masses is that of a psychopathic assassin in No Country For Old Men. And then you see this chameleon of an actor seamlessly transform into a chirpy, over-the-top magician dancing with all the grace and singing musical numbers in Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. It is a testament to how brilliant Bardem is and he proves it here. His innocence as Hector P. Valenti, a failing magician who still lives life with a broad smile not only gets the best arc but does absolute justice to it. Mind you, this man is 53 years old and still sings and dances better than anyone else!

Tries to combat predictability

Tries to combat predictability

When you are trying to make a family-friendly and light-hearted comedy film in 2022 that requires extremely suspension of disbelief, you need to tackle plenty of demons. But if there is one trap that is the easiest to fall into is predictability. You know the tropes of a film like this almost to an extent where you can intercept the next angle that is going to come up. And that becomes the only hindrance with Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. When you know what is going to happen next, it becomes a tad difficult to stay as invested as otherwise. To the film's credit, it does manage to do that to a certain extent with the treatment of its characters.

All Heart, Innocent & Adorable Lyle

All Heart, Innocent & Adorable Lyle

Seemingly, when a film is as innocent, clean and noble in its treatment of the subject matter as much as Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is, one can get over the minor hurdles. From having a vegan and extremely loving stepmom in Constance Wu's Mrs. Primm to a constantly worried and panicked lonely child in the form of Winslow Fegley's Josh to an almost evil-like grumpy neighbour in the form of Brett Gelman's Mr, Grumps and finally - an anthropomorphic crocodile that is cute, adorable and nothing but all love in the form of Lyle - the film has enough emotional capabilities to keep you hooked and care about this characters from laughing with them, singing with them and even crying with them.

Shawn Mendes - Lyle

Shawn Mendes - Lyle

There couldn't have been a better call in my opinion than having Shawn Mendes become the singing voice for Lyle, the crocodile. Not only is Mendes obviously melodious as everyone knows but he lends a certain boyish charm that is perfect for Lyle as we see the croc right from being an infant to a 10-feet moving biggie. But what makes Lyle instantly lovable is his innocence that is assisted extremely well by Mendes' voice.

The Musical Numbers

The Musical Numbers

And finally, if you have a musical comedy that is heavily dependent on music especially, you got to have the best. This film manages to achieve that with finesse as the recurring song, 'Take a Look at Us Now', 'Top of the World' and even the soulful 'Carried Away' are fantastic songs that manage to strike just the right chord it intends to. Also, special credit to the likes of Wu, Winslow and Bardem for making all these numbers pop up even more.

The Verdict

In the end, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is a bloody good time at the movies and the fact that such a clean, saccharine and indulgent movie has arrived in this crazy world we are living in right now - it couldn't have been more opportune.

Rating - ***1/2 (3.5/5)

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