Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile 4K Ultra HD

"Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile" is a tale of the Primm family who moves to New York City. Their young son Josh struggles to adapt to his new school and new friends. All of that changes when he discovers Lyle––a singing crocodile who loves baths, caviar and great music––living in the attic of his new home. The two become fast friends, but when Lyle's existence is threatened by evil neighbor Mr. Grumps, the Primm's must band together with Lyle's charismatic owner, Hector P. Valenti, to show the world that family can come from the most unexpected places and there's nothing wrong with a big singing crocodile with an even bigger personality. Based on the book series by Bernard Waber (Gary Reber)

Special features include the featurettes: "Sing-Along Songs" (HD 08:07), "Story Time With Shawn Mendes & Javier Bardem" (HD (09:21), "Croc And Roll: Lyle On Set" (HD 02:32) and "Take A Look At Us Now: The Cast" (HD 07:28); bloopers (HD 02:08); deleted scene (HD 02:06)); "Top Of The World music video (HD 02:52; "Carried Away" music video (HD 03:54); upfront previews and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 2.39:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, was photographed digitally using the Arri Alexa LF and Arri Alexa Mini LF camera systems and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate format. Picture quality is superb with a warm and rich color palette that appears filmic. Hues are colorful and nicely saturated throughout with fine shadings. Lyle's coloring is a light green with off white cream belly. City colors are absolutely realistic with earthy tones exhibited on the brick facades and Central Park. Flesh tones are perfectly natural. HDR contrast is excellent with natural black levels, revealing shadow delineation during the dark scenes and realistic white levels. Resolution is excellent with fine detail exhibited throughout, whether in facial features, Lyle's bodily features, clothing, urban facades, apartment interiors and other object textures. This is a beautiful picture that is compelling. (Gary Reber)

The Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel soundtrack is dynamic sounding with a very aggressive enveloping music presence in the surround channels. The music is well recorded with excellent fidelity and vocal clarity. Atmospherics sound realistic and enveloping. Sound effects add weight to Lyle's movements. The soundtrack conveys a sense of true dimensionality. Dialogue is articulate with generally good spatial integration.

The Immersive Sound element is comprised of some limited extension of the music, spotty atmospherics and dialogue extension, ruckus sound effects and singing from Lyle's attic, school kids chatter and wrestling slams, Lyle singing on a roof top, crocodile grows, audience applause and other minor effects. While there are some effective height layer moments a lot more could have been achieved, specifically as it relates to the extension of the music.

This is a well crafted and dynamic holosonic® soundtrack with great music and fidelity throughout. (Gary Reber)