‘Leo’ Review – Bringing Out The Human Side Of A Lizard

Filled with silly humor and charmingly over-the-top characters, Leo is an unexpectedly relatable animated film that tackles ideas and concepts far more mature than the humor of its green lizard protagonist. This unapologetically wacky story brings a surprisingly human perspective to a story about an animal finding his purpose and making a difference in the lives of others.

Leo follows the story of a 5th-grade class pet lizard voiced by Adam Sandler. As time has gone by over the years, Leo realizes that he wants more from life than simply existing in captivity. The film follows Leo as he explores life beyond the classroom, going on adventures and eventually finding his true purpose in life.

Despite being a children’s film, Leo explores the very concept of existence and addresses the universal idea of finding a sense of purpose and fulfillment in life. It tackles the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with growing up. Whether you are a human or a lizard, the importance of making your life count for something is an idea that all audiences can relate to. 

The film expands on these ideas by having Leo help each character confront a fear that holds them back. The writers address these fears with a sense of earnestness and sincerity and do not shy away from deeper topics like grief or divorce. While not necessarily tear-jerking, the film knows how to effectively play on the emotions of its audience. The film even made me emotional about my childhood as it highlights the importance of a relationship between a teacher and her students. 

The film features a talented voice cast as Adam Sandler lends his distinct comedic style to the titular character of Leo. While the character’s silly voice can be distracting and even obnoxious at times, Leo is still endearing because, behind the silliness, there is a character who cares about others. Just like the fifth-grade class, audience members grow to love Leo over the duration of the film.

Meanwhile, Bill Burr’s sassy turtle character, Squirtle, bounces well off Sandler’s Leo, providing a sarcastic foil to the more emotionally grounded protagonist. Many of the film’s best jokes are delivered by Burr’s character, including one particularly memorable scene involving a description of turtles laying eggs. This character has the perfect amount of screen time, delivering some levity without detracting from the overall narrative.

The film’s voice cast also features many less-established actors to star as the members of the fifth-grade class. Without the crutch of name recognition to rely on, the film makes these characters stand out through exceptional writing and character development. It is great to see this cast get their time to shine with a script that allows them to showcase the emotional and humorous sides of growing up.

The humor of the film is a true standout as the jokes are witty and snappy, delivering some punchlines that are laugh-out-loud hilarious. The effectiveness of this humor becomes especially prominent in the sarcastic exchanges between Leo and Squirtle or their commentary on the absurdity of the lives of the fifth-grade class. The film also has other comedic staples of the genre including its fair share of toilet humor and physical comedy moments. What seems like low-brow humor is given a new sense of style through the film’s unique animation style.

The script is further elevated through the writers’ ability to incorporate a sense of self-awareness into the humor, often taking a moment to poke fun at the absurd premise of its story. The script plays off its formulaic nature by paying homage to others who came before it. There is an acknowledgment of the common trope of an unexpected stranger helping a child grow up and uses it to its advantage, using the absurdity of the situation to enhance the comedy of each interaction. 

That being said, not all elements of this genre are as well incorporated as the film also attempts to integrate a musical element into its narrative. However, the songs feel too short to truly leave an impression on the audience. Despite some fun lyrics and catchy rhythms, the majority of the songs are forgettable due to their short lengths. The film also stumbles in the delivery of its final message. The film tells its story with a sense of subtlety for the majority of its runtime but becomes heavy-handed in the last scene as Leo outright spells out the message to the audience. 

Despite embracing Adam Sandler’s comedic style, Leo packs a surprisingly emotional punch. The film’s embracing of the anxieties of growing up allows both younger and older viewers to find some relatability in the material while its sharp humor and talented voice cast ensure that audiences of all ages have something to enjoy in the film. It is silly but earnest, making for a heartwarming yet comedic coming-of-age film.  

Leo is currently available to stream on Netflix. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_AEL-Xo5l8]