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$64,191,681
$111,080,122
Director & Top Cast
Technical Specifications
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: 2.39 : 1
Other Details
Country of Origin: United States,United Kingdom,Italy
Language: English
Showtimes
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Summaries
Plot Summary
- In New York City, Hector P. Valenti, a charismatic but struggling magician, dreams of stardom and auditioning for a national talent show. Despite his charm, he is repeatedly rejected. After yet another failed audition, Hector stumbles into an exotic pet store where he discovers a baby crocodile with an incredible singing voice. He names the crocodile Lyle, believing Lyle's talent is his ticket to fame and fortune. Hector wagers his three-story Victorian brownstone as collateral for their debut performance. However, when Lyle succumbs to stage fright on opening night, Hector loses the house. Desperate, he leaves Lyle behind and sets off to rebuild his career.Eighteen months later, the Primms-Joseph, Katie, and their shy young son, Josh-move into the house Hector lost. Josh struggles to adjust to his new environment and feels isolated at school. One night, while exploring the attic, he encounters Lyle, now fully grown. Though initially frightened, Josh quickly befriends the singing crocodile after Lyle saves him from a mugger and charms him with his musical talent.When Joseph and Katie discover Lyle, they are understandably terrified at first. However, Lyle wins them over by sharing in their favorite pastimes, and the family forms a close bond with him. Lyle brings joy and confidence to their lives, especially Josh, who begins to thrive at school and make new friends.Hector eventually returns, invoking an agreement that allows him to stay in the house for fifteen days a year. He rekindles his partnership with Lyle and tries once more to get him to perform in public, but Lyle's stage fright persists unless he is with the Primms.Meanwhile, the Primms' cantankerous downstairs neighbor, Alistair Grumps, grows increasingly irritated by the noise coming from their home. Determined to put an end to the disruptions, Grumps installs surveillance cameras. When he discovers Lyle, he uses the evidence to pressure Hector into selling Lyle to pay off his debts. Lyle is unable to defend himself due to his stage fright and is taken to the New York City Zoo.Wracked with guilt, Hector enlists Josh to help break Lyle out of the zoo. Though initially reluctant after learning Hector sold Lyle, Josh eventually agrees, and the pair successfully free the crocodile. On Josh's insistence, Hector apologizes to Lyle, and the two reconcile. Together, they race to the talent show where Josh encourages Lyle to perform. Overcoming his fear, Lyle dazzles the audience with his singing, earning widespread acclaim.A month later, a trial is held to determine Lyle's fate. Grumps argues that Lyle is a public nuisance and should not be allowed to stay with the Primms. However, Hector presents the deed to the house, written by his grandmother, who built the home and founded the zoo. The deed includes a provision allowing exotic animals to reside on the property. The judge rules in Lyle's favor, freeing him to live with the Primms.The courtroom erupts in celebration as Grumps is implied to face eviction. To mark Lyle's freedom, the Primms take him on a well-deserved vacation. Meanwhile, Hector begins mentoring a new animal talent: a beat boxing rattlesnake named Malfoy, owned by Josh's friend, Trudy. With joy and music filling their lives, the Primms and their extraordinary crocodile embrace their happily-ever-after.
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. In New York City, a charismatic magician named Hector P. Valenti wants to try out on a national talent show but is constantly rejected. One day after a failed audition, he wanders into an exotic pet store, where he finds a singing baby crocodile and names him Lyle. Seeing Lyle as an opportunity to become rich in the talent business, he places his three-story Victorian brownstone house as collateral for their performance, but Lyle experiences stage fright during the premiere and Hector loses the house. Hector is forced to move out and reluctantly leaves Lyle to fend for himself while he tries to make more money. Eighteen months later, Mr. and Mrs. Primm and their young son Josh move into the house. Josh is initially terrified of moving into his new home and struggles to make friends at school. One night, he discovers Lyle, now fully grown, living in the attic, and they become friends when Lyle saves Josh from a mugger and demonstrates his singing talent. Josh's stepmother and father eventually find out about Lyle, and though initially terrified of him, bond with Lyle over their favorite hobbies. One day, Hector returns to the house to visit Lyle, as an agreement states he can live in the house fifteen days a year. He makes another attempt to get Lyle to perform on stage, but it fails as Lyle still has stage fright, apart from when performing for the Primms. Meanwhile, Alistair Grumps, the Primms' unfriendly downstairs neighbor, becomes annoyed by the loud activity caused by Lyle, Hector, and the Primms. Determined to put an end to it, he has cameras installed to discover what is happening but manages to achieve his goal by bribing Hector to sell out Lyle in exchange for money to pay his debts. Lyle cannot convince the authorities of his benevolent nature because of his stage fright and is locked up at the zoo. Feeling guilty for what he did to Lyle, Hector goes to break him out of the zoo with Josh's help, who was initially unwilling to help after learning Hector sold Lyle out. On Josh's insistence, Hector and Lyle reconcile with each other before Lyle escapes with Josh to the talent show, while Hector distracts the authorities. On stage, Lyle manages to overcome his stage fright with help from Josh, receiving acclaim from the audience and viewers for his singing talent. One month later, a trial is held to determine whether or not Lyle may be free. The judge ultimately decides to rule over Grumps in favor of Lyle when Hector reveals that the deed to his house was written out to his grandmother, that was hidden away under Grumps' bed, who built the house and founded the New York City Zoo where Lyle was previously kept, allowing her to keep exotic animals as pets. After the trial, the Primms celebrate Lyle's freedom, and Grumps' implied eviction, by taking him on vacation, while Hector becomes acquainted with a new talented animal: a beatboxing rattlesnake named Malfoy, owned by Josh's friend, Trudy. — elwarts