The movie title is “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile.”

You could call the movie “Winslow, Winslow, Fegley.”

Winslow Fegley, a Lehigh Valley native, gets a lot of screen time in “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile.”

I didn’t time it, but Fegley seems to be on screen more than the Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) namesake of the movie’s title.

Screen-time comparisons aside, Fegley, who is 13, commands the screen naturally and easily in every scene he’s in. He projects a range of emotions as an asthmatic, hyper-vigilant boy who becomes a confident, take-charge teen. Fegley turns in a remarkable performance, deserving of Oscar actor nomination consideration.

Winslow Fegley is an actor sibling in a family that I called “Lehigh Valley’s Barrymores.” Winslow’s parents are actors Michael Fegley, who was active in the Allentown Public Theatre, and Mercedes Tonne Fegley.

Winslow’s older brother is Oakes Fegley (“Pete’s Dragon,” 2016; “The War with Grandpa,” 2020; “The Fabelmans,” 2022).

Winslow’s older sister is August Fegley, who received a “Best Emerging Artist” Allentown Arts Ovation Award.

Winslow Fegley’s uncle is Jeff Fegley, co-owner of Fegley’s Allentown Brew Works and Fegley’s Bethlehem Brew Works.

Michael, Mercedes, August and Oakes Fegley (as Tiny Tim) appeared in Civic Theatre of Allentown’s 2011 production of its annual “A Christmas Carol” on the Main Stage of the Nineteenth Street Theatre.

In the live action, computer animation musical-comedy, “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile,” Winslow Fegley plays Josh Primm, a son of Mr. Primm (Scoot McNairy) and Josh’s stepmother, Mrs. Primm (Constance Wu, “Crazy Rich Asians,” 2018; TV’s “Fresh off the Boat,” 2015 - ‘20).

Josh befriends Lyle (voiced by Shawn Mendes, who sings several songs in the movie), who is living in the attic of the Primm’s New York City brownstone.

Lyle was being trained by Hector (Javier Bardem, Oscar recipient, supporting actor, “No Country for Old Men,” 2007) for his stage act.

Lyle, however, has stage fright.

To complicate matters, the Primms have an annoying downstairs’ neighbor, the aptly-named Mr. Grumps (Brett Gelman).

“Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile” is the theatrical movie adaptation of Bernard Waber’s 1965 children’s book of the same title, and Waber’s 1962 book about Lyle, “The House on East 88th Street.”

Directors Will Speck and Josh Gordon (Oscar nomination, live action film short, “Culture,” 1997; co-directors, “Blades of Glory,” 2007; “The Switch,” 2010; directors, Geico TV commercials) do as much as they can with the rather flat screenplay by Will Davies (screenplay, “How to Train Your Dragon,” 2010; “Twins,” 1988), which has some chuckles, but needed a third or fourth draft uncredited punch-up to really make the material sing. While the premise is fun, the plot, such as it is, unfolds stiffly.

The insertion of musical sequences doesn’t help. The songs are not particularly memorable and seem to have been added as an afterthought to distract from the meager plot.

Nonetheless, “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile” has the goofy charm of 1960s’ minor Disney comedies (“The Parent Trap,” 1961; “That Darn Cat,” 1965; “The Love Bug,” 1968; “The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.” 1969).

The production values are excellent. The CGI of Lyle is particularly impressive. One aspect of the movie that is seamless is the CGI creature’s integration with the live-action.

And there’s that performance by Winslow Fegley. I may be biased, rooting for the home team, but Fegley shows everyone one in the movie how it’s done.

“Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile” can be enjoyed by nearly the entire family.

”Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile,”

MPAA rated PG (Parental Guidance Suggested: Some material may not be suitable for children) for mild peril and thematic elements; Genre: Animation, Musical, Comedy; Run time: 1 hour, 46 minutes. Distributed by Columbia Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous:

Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock” is heard on the soundtrack. Of course, it is.

At the Movies:

“Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile” was seen at the Movie Tavern at Trexlertown. It’s great to hear the laughter of children in a movie theater.

Theatrical Movie Domestic Box Office,

Oct. 14 - 16: “Halloween Ends” had a great beginning, opening at No. 1 with $41.2 million in 3,901 theaters, ending the two-week No. 1 run of another horror film, “Smile,” which dropped to No. 2, with $12.4 million, in 3,612 theaters, $71.1 million, three weeks.

3. ”Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile” dropped one place, $7.3 million, in 4,350 theaters, $22.7 million, two weeks. 4. “The Woman King” stayed in place, $3.6 million, in 2,565 theaters, $59.7 million, five weeks. 5. “Amsterdam” dropped two places, $2.8 million, in 3,005 theaters, $11.9 million, two weeks. 6. “Don’t Worry Darling” dropped one place, $2.1 million, in 2,734 theaters, $42.4 million, four weeks. 7. “Barbarian” stayed in place, $1.4 million, in 1,805 theaters, $38.9 million, six weeks. 8. “Bros” stayed in place, $920,265, in 2,201 theaters, $10.8 million, three weeks. 9. “Terrifier 2” moved up one place, $850,000, in 700 theaters, $2.2 million, two weeks. 10. “Top Gun: Maverick” dropped one place, $685,433, in 902 theaters, $715.7 million, 21 weeks.

Unreel,

Oct. 21:

“Black Adam,”

PG-13: Jaume Collet-Serra directs Freedom High School graduate Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Viola Davis, Pierce Brosnan and Sarah Shahi in the Fantasy film. The DC Comics superhero returns to life.

“Ticket to Paradise,”

PG-13: Ol Parker directs George Clooney and Julia Roberts in the Romance Comedy. A divorced couple teams up to travel to Bali in an attempt to stop their daughter’s wedding.

“The Banshees of Inisherin,”

R: Martin McDonagh directs Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Kerry Condon in the Comedy Drama. Two lifelong friends are at an impasse.

“My Policeman,”

R: Michael Grandage directs Harry Styles, Emma Corrin and Gina McKee in the Romance Comedy. A man from the past threatens a couple’s future.

Bonus track:

Oakes Fegley discusses “Pete’s Dragon” role in a 2016 Lehigh Valley Press article:

https://www.lvpnews.com/20160812/oakes-fegley-young-allentown-actor-lands-starring-role-in-disneys-petes/

This column is dedicated to the inestimable and formidable Angela Lansbury (1926-2022), who died Oct. 11, 2022, five days shy of her 97th birthday, Oct. 16. She was a triple-threat, not only as actor, singer and dancer, but in three acting idioms: film (three Oscar supporting actor nominees, including “Gaslight,” 1944; “Manchurian Candidate,” 1962), stage (six Tony Awards, including “Mame,” 1966; “Gypsy,” 1973; “Sweeney Todd,” 1978; “Blithe Spirit,” 2014) and television (“Murder, She Wrote,” 1984-1996).

Three Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes