Arlo the Alligator Boy

The modern age of family animated content has often felt like going for similar approaches around the mid-2000s and beyond. This is often found in channels such as Cartoon Network where bizarre looking characters learn lessons while enticing audiences with their charm and visual style. On paper that sounds like it would get stale with how saturated that market would get but the successful types of entries in that field know to how make a lasting impression with their effort. This brings us to an attempt on that area on Netflix, Arlo the Alligator Boy, which was the directorial debut of Ryan Crego. This was meant to act as a pilot to an announced streaming series I Heart Arlo and I didn't know much about it except hearing its name dropped from a content creator on YouTube who focuses on animation. I wanted to see if its charm with its weirdness can help bring something more focused than Mortal Kombat but after watching it, it ended up being underwhelming as a film.

What's it about? The story follows a naive wide-eyed half alligator half human boy who travels to meet his long lost father. This is definitely leaning towards the charm of its wacky antics during the venture, which can sometimes be neat to watch. The strength carrying this journey is definitely the 2D animation which appears decent for characters but is a highlight in the musical numbers. The song segments are standard R&B genre for the kids with their lyrics but the visuals that accompany it were given strong efforts. The messages its aiming for are very familiar but are light-hearted and delivered fairly respectfully.

Unfortunately, what lets this down from being memorable is the fact that it's meant as a pilot to a series has the bad side effect on the narrative and characters. The formulaic plot doesn't push itself beyond being very cliched in terms of forgettable archetypes for the supporting cast and comments about being a family unit that feel very hollow. Because it's meant to promote another connecting product in this universe, the bizarre group the protagonist meets doesn't have a chance to shine nor feel like the family unit its preaching about to the audience. The excuse of being connected to a series gave these writers that classic mindset of "Oh we'll just flesh out these folks on the episodes planned there and just say they are together as a family".

 

How are the actors? In regards to story importance, the actor to focus on are Michael J. Woodard. If there's anything great to comment on, it's how much Michael manages to hold his own carrying this lead role on his back. As an American Idol winner from a few years ago (I didn't realize it until I did some research on this), his singing is amazing for making up how basic the song lyrics here are, in addition to his enthusiastic charm throughout. Honorable mentions go to Mary Lambert and Vincent Rodriguez III with the former feeling like she did the best with what little was given to her, plus both of them are also solid standouts singing wise.

 

Overall Consensus: Arlo the Alligator Boy is an underwhelming film meant to promote a tv series that falters with a weak predictable story and uninteresting cliched characters but shines with great visuals and pretty good musical segments. ⭑⭑⭑1/4  Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes PG 

 

Reasons to watch it: You are a fan of the aforementioned actors. You want to have child friendly content playing on as background noise. You are interested in the musical R&B segments.

 

Reasons to avoid it: You aren't a fan of the aforementioned actors. You are bored by predictable formulaic child friendly plots with bland stereotypes.