Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

Parents need to know that Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is a live-action, family-friendly musical based on the beloved 1965 picture book. As in the book, the story centers around the Primm family, who discover that they have a crocodile in their New York City townhouse. This version of Lyle (who's voiced by Shawn Mendes) sings like a pop performer -- but only in front of loved ones, never an audience. The main antagonist is the Primms' downstairs neighbor -- the spot-on-named Mr. Grumps (Brett Gelman) -- who would love nothing more than to get the entire family evicted. Expect a bit of peril: Animal control shoots a tranquilizer gun to sedate Lyle, and, in a moment of humor, he accidentally swallows a cat whole. There's also a lot of slapstick, like when Lyle and Mr. Primm wrestle or a sequence in which two characters are pursued through New York City streets. There are a couple of fart jokes, and two different characters are caught taking a bath or shower, startling other characters. The story depicts a middle schooler who deals with anxiety, and a blended family that's really close. Younger kids will get a kick out of Lyle's little adventures, fans of Mendes' music will enjoy the original songs, and parents will appreciate the messages about teamwork, courage, and honesty.