Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile 4K 2022 Ultra HD 2160p

Storyline
Follows the title reptile who lives in a house on East 88th Street in New York City. Lyle enjoys helping the Primm family with everyday chores and playing with the neighborhood kids but one neighbor insists that Lyle belongs in a zoo. Mr. Grumps and his cat, Loretta, do not like crocodiles, and Lyle tries to prove that he is not as bad as others might first think.

User Review
With a strong message at its core and a likable cast of characters, "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile" is great, family fun. The story starts a bit slow, but once the music begins everything changes. Just like in "The Greatest Showman", "Dear Evan Hansen" and "Trolls", Pasek and Paul show their skills with the music in this film. Each song adds depth to the story and elevates the otherwise slow-paced script.

The casting is excellent with Shawn Mendes stealing the show. His voice is incredible and hilariously fits the adolescent crocodile. My kids were itching to dance the whole time and energetically cheered Lyle on. Having read the "Lyle the Crocodile" series, including the prequel "The House on East 88th Street" as a kid, it was a joy to see my kids appreciate the same stories.

First and foremost, this is a movie made for children. Is this a negative? Not at all, there are plenty of children's movies that have excellent cinematic value. Although it is cute, "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile" is not one of those movies. The film is full of cliches, the characters act more like caricatures than real people and the story is paper thin.

There are four new songs by Pasek and Paul in this movie, and that is not enough. All four songs are going to be on repeat in my car for weeks, but I wish there were more (for context, "The Greatest Showman" had 9 original songs). While the music is great, the plot in between songs was rudimentary and a little awkward.

"Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile" is exactly what you would expect after looking at the poster. The movie is full of pigeonholed characters and childish situations that occasionally find their footing. The soundtrack is excellent, and Shawn Mendes sings his heart out, though the rest of the movie falls a little flat. My best cinematic comparison would be "Stuart Little" with pop music. It's a wholesome movie that the entire family, especially those with little kids, will enjoy.

Best Character: Lyle Best Scene: Mrs. Primm drawing Lyle Best Quote: The whole Rip up the Recipe song.