Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 71% of 93 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.1/10. The website's consensus reads: "Parents may not be beguiled, but Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is bound to make most children smile." Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 51 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale, while those at PostTrak gave it an 80% overall positive score, with 62% saying they would definitely recommend it.
Cath Clarke of The Guardian gave the film a mixed review giving it 3 out of 5 stars and wrote: "Javier Bardem marches away with the film as flamboyant failed showman Hector P Valenti. Next to his dazzle, everything else about Lyle, Lyle Crocodile, adapted from Bernard Waber's much-loved picture books, looks a bit average."
Ryan Leston for IGN called the film "charming", praising the character of Hector writing: "Sure, it's not exactly original, essentially a mish-mash of similar films including Hop and Sing, and most of the laughs feel familiar. But Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile conjures up enough of the old showbiz charm to win you over. It's heart-warming, too – Lyle may be the singer, but he helps those around him find their voice, and sometimes that's exactly what we need: a singing crocodile to just be a good pal."
Robert Abele was less than positive with his review writing for The Wrap: "Did Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile look good in storyboards or sound fun in creative meetings? Because it's a certifiable mess on its webbed hind feet, teetering uncomfortably as both fanciful family comedy and live-action/animated musical, whether trying to make dumpster diving look whimsical (it isn't) or the tunes sound like anything but positivity-anthem-generator readouts."
Nell Minow, writing for RogerEbert.com, was more positive in her review of the film, giving it a score of 3 out of 4 stars. She wrote: "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is a bit too long for a family movie, with some unnecessary complications toward the end, and it's not quite up to the Paddington level of movie adaptations of classic children's books. But it is a warm-hearted family film with great musical numbers that will make another generation of kids hopefully search the attic on the chance that they might find a singing crocodile."
The film's musical sequences received particular praise. The New York Times described "Take a Look at Us Now" as a "charming and exuberant musical number" in which Bardem and Lyle "leap, tap and twirl". Deadline Hollywood highlighted the film's dance numbers, including "Top of the World" and "Rip Up the Recipe". Vanity Fair later included "Take a Look at Us Now" among its ten best musical movie moments of 2022. IndieWire praised Bardem's physical performance in the number, highlighting his "Old Hollywood chops" as he leapt on chairs and slid across floors.
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