Shawn Mendes voices Lyle, in the film Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. A film based on the children’s book, about a crocodile living in New York City.
When the Primm family (Wu, Scoot McNairy, Winslow Fegley) 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 (Mendes) 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 (Brett Gelman), the Primms must band together with Lyle’s charismatic owner, Hector P. Valenti (Bardem), 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.
Who do you voice in the film and what makes him so unique?
SHAWN MENDES: I voice Lyle. I think the film is interesting because where maybe you have main characters striving to be something that is like chasing the glory, Lyle is just wanting to have a family, feel at home and feel connected to people, which is a very beautiful concept for me. And I think that’s what makes him so lovable and just so relatable. Because I think he’s like, yeah, the spotlight is beautiful and it’s cool, but it’s really love that’s the reason that I sing. When I feel comfortable, when I feel accepted, is when I want to sing and I think it’s a genius and universal feeling. So I just think I relate to him a lot.
What attracted you to voicing this character and making that leap into making music?
SHAWN MENDES: I really loved this big animal that has a really soft, sweet spirit, and I kind of just felt like that was kindred to myself. And for me any opportunity that is potentially going to be something that resonates with children or younger people is just a beautiful opportunity to do something great.
(photo: Courtesy of Sony Pictures)
You got to see your music come to life through this character. What was your reaction to seeing Lyle sing?
SHAWN MENDES: Hearing your own voice come out of an animated character is such a weird experience because you’re associating your voice but then you’re also like, oh, this is an entirely different thing. But the funny thing is that the animators were filming my facial expressions while I was singing in the studio. So I guess they were animating Lyle to make similar expressions to mine. A couple of times when he was going through something, he was trying to make a decision, he had these expressions and I was like, ‘That – that’s exactly how I would have done that,’ which is really fun and interesting.
(photo: Courtesy of Sony Pictures)
How would you describe Lyle’s love for music and how does it help him communicate?
SHAWN MENDES: I think ultimately Lyle sings because he loves it. He loves music. And you can kind of see how music is his language. It’s the way that he’s communicating to the humans in the film, which I also feel like I relate to a lot. And I think he is just doing it to kind of communicate his love, and I feel like that’s similar to how humans make music. That is the way that it kind of comes through the vest, is when it’s about communicating truth and communicating love.
Lyle is not your typical pet, by any means. How does the fish-out-of-water element of the movie play into the comedy and play into what makes him so accessible?
SHAWN MENDES: The movie is extremely funny. It actually took me by surprise how funny it was because his demeanor as a crocodile is so relaxed and small. But there are these moments where he lets out these big roars, but they’re out of excitement, not out of ‘I’m trying to scare you.’ I love it.
There’s never a dull moment in this film. Tell us about some of the action and adventure that goes on that you think audiences will take to?
SHAWN MENDES: I think what you receive from the film and what you receive from Lyle himself is how intuitive he is, how much he’s paying attention to the people around him. He pays attention to how the father loves wrestling and how the mom loves cooking. He’s like, ‘Oh, I know what is going to get you to kind of open up and soften up a little bit.’ Like the moment when he smashes through the framed wrestling jersey and he’s like, ‘We’re going to wrestle,’ I thought that was hilarious.
There’s this sort of adventure story at the heart of this. Beyond the comedy and the fish-out-of-water, it’s the story of Lyle saving the family and the family saving Lyle. Talk about that sense of adventure that we go on.
SHAWN MENDES: I think one of the most exciting parts of the film is that first day you see Josh go into New York City and he’s terrified by the bustle and the sounds. And then Lyle shows him all these little back routes and he’s climbing up gutters. They’re in dumpsters. And they’re really moving around the crazy parts of the city and you see Josh kind of open up and gain this confidence to move through New York at ease. And I think that’s really cool and really exciting. I kind of feel like Josh on his first day in New York, to be honest.
Talk about the music. You worked with some renowned composers.
SHAWN MENDES: Paul and Pasek. Yeah.
Talk about working with them and what that process was like.
SHAWN MENDES: Paul and Pasek are geniuses. And I think they are so incredibly collaborative, too. The entire time they just always wanted me to feel like I was connecting to something that was my truth. But you don’t realize because it’s always connected to a movie, there’s so much you’re digesting one thing at one time. You don’t realize how complex and how smart and how beautiful these songs are, how lyrically astonishing they are, and how much effort they put into them. And when you’re in the recording studio going through the songs, that’s when you really start to have an eye-opening experience to how amazing they really are. And it just felt like an honor. It felt like a privilege to be able to work with them on this movie and I feel like they are truly two greats of their generation.
What made that process unique to you?
SHAWN MENDES: I think for me, I’ve always grown up making music in a more pop kind of way. Where here, there’s a lot more pop music kind of mixed with showtunes. And a lot of it was actually super challenging for me, stepping into that more showtune-y style that Lyle and Hector get into. And that was really fun and exciting for me to do that with them.
Talk about the song, Carried Away, and that moment in the film.
SHAWN MENDES: The second I heard the song before seeing anything of the film, it was a special song to me. It just felt very sincere and very magical. And I think that moment in the film is where you really, truly feel the heartbreak for the situation that Lyle’s in. All he really wants is just to have a family that loves him. And now he’s misunderstood and he’s trapped in a cage. And I think it really just perfectly puts together all his hesitation toward performing live and his fear towards people in general. And I just think that the song itself is gorgeous. It was one of the first songs I recorded and it was so much fun to sing. It felt like it came out of me effortlessly.
Talk about Heartbeat and the writing of it and how that song made it into the film.
SHAWN MENDES: Heartbeat has been a song that has been so close to my heart for a very long time. It’s just been this incredible song of light and love, but it just never felt like the right time to put it out. And when we started talking about an ending title credit song and I listened to Heartbeat, I was like, oh, this was what this song was meant for. Because I don’t even know if it would have made it out. I couldn’t find the right vessel for it.
And the movie just truly felt like it was created for it, it was made for it. And I’m so pleased because it’s one of my favorite songs I’ve ever made and I’m excited for people to hear it.
What is it about?
SHAWN MENDES: Heartbeat really is just about one or a few people just being the people who make you feel truly loved and truly in love. And just that kind of special connection that only a few people can give you.
There are some great duets. You have Javier and Constance. Talk about that process and watching it come to life onscreen.
SHAWN MENDES: I’m just incredibly impressed to see Javier and Constance sing with the conviction and the beauty that they do. Because first of all, as a singer, even trying to get me to do little acting moments in the recording studio with no cameras on me was terrifying. So I just am inspired and amazed by them for taking that leap of bravery to step into singing. And not only step into it but absolutely do an amazing job. I mean, Javier sounds incredible. Singing with him was a blast. And Constance too. I think they both completely just killed it.
How do Lyle and Josh meet and how do they each help one another?
SHAWN MENDES: I think Lyle and Josh are both scared. I think they’re both feeling like they’re in a world that doesn’t accept them fully. Josh is kind of feeling like he’s being bullied at school. He’s feeling like he’s not accepted by the kids, he’s not accepted by the city he’s in. And Lyle kind of feels the same way. And so when they find each other they’re both these outcasts who come together to realize that they’re exactly where they do belong. They’re mirroring each other in a lot of ways throughout the film.
(photo: Sarah Shatz)
Talk about the message of finding your own voice. Do you agree with that?
SHAWN MENDES: I do agree with that. In a way, I think the film is about finding your own voice. But I also think the film is about being there for each other and really listening to what somebody might need. I think there’s multiple points throughout the film where Josh says to Javier’s character, ‘Is that what he wants? Does he want to go out and play that show right now?’ And Lyle’s kind of just doing it. He’s unsure. And you can tell that this was about Josh listening to what Lyle needed. And Lyle was doing the same for the Primms. He’s like, ‘Oh, no. I know what you need. You need to bake some cookies.’ And I think that is the beauty, what true love is and what real friendship is – listening to what your friend might need and being there for them.
What makes this film beyond just a kids’ movie and makes it something for everybody?
SHAWN MENDES: I think the film is full of incredible wisdom, truly. Beyond what is maybe obvious. But on top of that I think the music is incredibly elevated and beautiful and I think you have to recognize just how incredible the actors are and how much of an amazing performance they put on. For me, seeing Javier take on this role was shocking in the best way ever. Like, I could never have imagined him taking on a role like this and he is so captivating the entire time. So I find it just to be thrilling. And I think there’s something for everyone in this film.
There are huge musical numbers. There’s a big crocodile. A lot of big laughs. What is a big screen experience of this film going to be like?
SHAWN MENDES: I think going to see it on the big screen, in the theater, is just going to feel amazing. I think it’s just going to make everything feel even bigger and even more exciting, especially the finale. You want to see that on a big screen. It’s gorgeous. There was so much work and effort put into the sound design and in the music behind the movie that I think seeing it in a theater will be the best.
Tell us a little bit about Lyle’s challenges with stage fright. Is that something you relate to as a performer? Have you dealt with those kinds of anxieties at all?
SHAWN MENDES: Absolutely. I think when you don’t feel accepted or comfortable, it’s really hard to sing. It’s really hard to perform. And I’ve been in that situation a million times. Kind of getting onstage and feeling like I’m choking. But the interesting thing is that Lyle was capable of doing it the whole time. He just needed someone to say to him, ‘I love you even when you don’t sing.’ You know?
What advice would you give anyone like Lyle?
SHAWN MENDES: I think for me, it’s always been about acknowledging it. Talking about it and having it be something that is very real and not trying to suppress it or beat it or always overcome it. If I had to give advice to anyone fighting their own kind of nerves or self-doubt, I would say that usually if you’re feeling nervous for something like this, it truly does mean you care. And so many of my idols and the best performers I’ve ever met have said that those nerves are kind of their allies in making them perform better.
Do you have a favorite song in the film?
SHAWN MENDES: It’s hard to say because there are all of these versions of Take a Look at Us Now. There’s, like, the big kind of version of it and then there are these really sad melancholy moments of it, and I find that really captivating and beautiful. I don’t know. Carried Away – I connected with that immediately. So, Carried Away is probably my favorite song in the film.
Are there any songs, soundtracks, etc., that inspired your character or your character development?
SHAWN MENDES: Oh, absolutely. I think just working with Pasek and Paul and watching their creative process has been inspiring. They’re like painters who use every color. And I’ve always been like, ‘I know how to use these colors but not these.’ And I watched them paint with all the colors and that was very inspiring to me.
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile opens 28 October 2022 in South African cinemas.
