Movie info via Rotten Tomatoes;
Actor and comedian Adam Sandler (Hotel Transylvania, The Wedding Singer) delivers signature laughs in this coming-of-age animated musical comedy about the last year of elementary school — as seen through the eyes of a class pet. Jaded 74-year-old lizard Leo (Sandler) has been stuck in the same Florida classroom for decades with his terrarium-mate turtle (Bill Burr). When he learns he only has one year left to live, he plans to escape to experience life on the outside but instead gets caught up in the problems of his anxious students — including an impossibly mean substitute teacher. It ends up being the strangest but most rewarding bucket list ever….
Review:
In Leo, Adam Sandler voices the grumpy title lizard who is facing a mid-reptile identity crisis. The green one is turning 75, and is starting to see the limitations of living his life in a fifth-grade terrarium with Squirtle the Turtle (Bill Burr). They are tiring of watching generations of teen archetype passing by them, and Leo yearns for the wild.
He gets the opportunity when the regular teacher goes on maternity leave and a no-nonsense substitute, Ms. Malkin (Cecily Strong) replaces her. She demands that each student “volunteer” cuddle with the reptile every school weekend. Leo talks, relates, generally plays therapist to them knowing he can escape when they eventually let their guard down and feel they confidently leave him alone. The only problem- Leo enjoys this therapy gig.
Leo is the second animated film from Sandler’s production house Happy Madison Productions. The first was a raunchy Hanukkah flick, Eight Crazy Nights. Leo aims to be more family friendly. The content and jokes are kid friendly. The challenges of growing up theme, is also, kid friendly.
Since this is a family project, nepotism requires that Sandler’s daughters, Sadie and Sunny, do some of the voice work. They are turning into quite competent voice and character actors. Sunny seems to inherent her father’s comic style and delivery. Her motor mouth character is both funny, annoying and engagingly boring. Listening to her speak is like listening to both a budding rap star and oral poet perfecting their technique.
Sandler’s voice work combines the gruffness and sweetness to make this character work. Sandler’s singing voice, however, is quite average, and on occasion, even atrocious. The many trite songs with upcoming, self empowering can-do lyrics that come every four scenes, make Leo the equivalent of listening to Sunny Sandler’s motormouth character, a kind of nappy time for the OCD kids watching. Leo dies when it turns musical.
Leo gets a 3.0 out of 5 or a B. It’s streaming on Netflix.
Credits:
Directed by
- Robert Marianetti
- David Wachtenheim
Written by
- Robert Smigel
- Paul Sado
Produced by
- Adam Sandler
Starring
- Adam Sandler
- Sadie Sandler
- Sunny Sandler
- Jackie Sandler
- Robert Smigel
Edited by
- Patrick Voetberg
- Joseph Titone
Music by
- Geoff Zanelli(score)
- Robert Smigel (songs)
Animation by
Jason Figliozzi
Production
company
Distributed by
Release date
- November 21, 2023
Running time
102 minutes[1]
Country
United States
Language
English
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