Lilo My Crocodile Friend is a terrific action/animated family comedy based on the bestselling book series by Bernard Waberse. It tells the story of Lilo, a crocodile who expresses herself by singing (with the voice of Shawn Mendez) and that he will be adopted, first by a disastrous wizard (Javier Bardem) and later by a family. open this fridayon October 21, and we spoke with Bardem and with the directors, Will Speck and Josh Gordon.
This is the first children’s film starring Javier Bardem, which embodies a flamboyant magician, Héctor P. Valenti. The actor admits that his children, aged 9 and 11, contributed a lot to his acceptance of the role: “As soon as I told them that I could make a film in which I sang with a crocodile, they were very happy. Also nothey had never seen one of my films at the cinema, and being able to sit with them, with their popcorn, and be seen on the big screen, was a compelling reason to say yes to the role.
We asked Javier how the shooting of the film, in which he shares the lead role with this animated crocodile who was not in the set, went: “I had to use a lot of imagination and a lot of patience to imagine the crocodile. Sometimes I had a person with cables in front of me, especially in the choreographies, because you had to have a physical space. You had to know where the crocodile was going to be in order to do the moves. But most of the time it was empty space and quite a challenge to work with something that wasn’t there. But when you get used to it, it’s fun because you work with your imagination, with something you create yourself… you create your own crocodile”.
A magician and his singing crocodile
Javier Bardem introduces us to his character, Héctor P. Valenti: “He is a man who is a magician, a musician, a dancer… and who is considered one of the best in the world.. But the reality is different. And just when you need something inspiring, a singing crocodile appears in your life.
“Then he teaches him, educates him… he manages to make a showman out of him,” adds the actor. Yes together they make a big number, but the crocodile has stage fright, so they won’t succeed. So Héctor disappears for a season, but he will come back, because he knows that without Lilo he misses half of his art”.
There are moments in the film where Hector’s enthusiasm, his hairstyle and his sense of humor they remind us of the great Juan Tamariz. We ask Bardem if he was inspired by him: “Yes, it was one of my sources; their enthusiasm, their magic and the hilarious chaos of their performances. And also the quality, the fact that the magic works on the face, while the hands deceive you. It is the face that tells you the story”.
Still from ‘Lilo, my friend the crocodile’
Additionally, Bardem had two magicians who taught him a few tricks: “I’ve seen a lot of videos of magicians, some very well known and some not so well known. But what he had was two American magicians for the events, for weddings… who were very good. They did amazing things and had a lot of patience with me, because with these clumsy hands that I have, it was not easy to make anything disappear”.
As this is his first family comedy, we asked Bardem if he had a harder time making people laugh or cry: “I think making people laugh is a lot harder. When you travel there, you realize that what hurts us human beings are usually the same things, but what makes us laugh changes a lot depending on the culture. Making someone laugh is very complicated, which is why we celebrate so much when someone makes us laugh openly. Because it’s not easy.”
“In the case of my character -he concludes-, more than someone who makes people laugh, is someone who brings laughter; someone you want to spend time with, because they have a great energy.
Javier Bardem plays in the children’s film: ‘Lilo, my friend the crocodile’
Sang with Shawn Mendes
Highlight great songs from the film, written by the team of songwriters behind the great showman, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. In several we listen to Bardem with the famous Canadian singer Shawn Mendez. “We recorded them separately. But I was very impressed with the result, because she has a beautiful voice. Fortunately, I think he took pity and lowered his voice so that I could be heard”.
Although Bardem has already sung Be the Ricardosrecognizes that this film goes a little further:Here we don’t just sing, but there are very elaborate musical numbers. And they take a long time to rehearse and prepare. But the team knew that I was neither a singer nor a dancer and they managed to adapt these figures to my limits.
This is why Bardem does not see himself having a musical career like other actors, like Antonio Banderas: “No, because I find it very difficult. Before, it seemed incredible to me that someone could go on stage and be able to play, sing and dance at the same time. And after taking my first steps, I find it even more incredible.”
Still from ‘Lilo, my friend the crocodile’
As for the positive messages conveyed by the film, Bardem points out:There is friendship, family… but also the fact of trusting the other, give others a chance instead of going forward with prejudice. Try to find out how the other person feels, which in this case is Lilo the crocodile”.
“Also –adds the actor-, the fact that hoh, to express what one feels and to be what each is, without having this pressure to try to be what others want us to be. In the end, we have to try to be ourselves and I think that will allow us to have a better life”.
On whether he would do a second part in case Lilo was a hit, Bardem tells us: “If it works, I wouldn’t mind repeating, because he is a character with whom I spent very good times and I laughed a lot. But the script should make sense.”
Still from ‘Lilo, my friend the crocodile’
“Lilo is looking for love, acceptance”
Will Speck and Josh Gordonknown for his comedies Blades of glory, switch Yes office christmas party, they are the ones in charge of bringing the Lilo books to the cinema: “There is something very sweet in the books which is universal -says Will Speck-. And that, in addition, is a very timely message: we must overcome this fear of others, of those who are not like us. A problem that, unfortunately, is still very present in our world. We were eager to find a story that would support this idea that you can embrace those who are different from you.”
That’s why Lilo is looking for something we all yearn for, as Josh Gordon tells us: “Lilo is looking for love, looking for acceptance. But what he finds is a world that is afraid of him or that wants something from him. This is why it is so important that you reunite with this family and the unconditional love they profess. That unlocks it.”
As for the things Lilo likes, Will tells us: “He loves food. But also dancing, singing, listening to music and swimming. But above all, he likes to surprise people and make friends.
Still from ‘Lilo, my friend the crocodile’
“We love ‘The Gremlins’”
The character of Bardem finds Lilo in a store reminiscent of that of the gremlins, where Gizmo appeared. ”We love the movie the gremlins Will confesses. It’s funny that you say that, because it’s a film that fascinated me when I was a kid. And I think it’s very likely that, subconsciously, this first appearance of Lilo was inspired by Gizmo’s, although right now I can’t remember exactly what the scene looked like in the gremlins”.
But… Why didn’t they make an animated film? Why did you want to mix actors and animated characters? “We couldn’t hire a real alligator,” jokes Josh. We wanted to give him a lot of expressiveness, make him a character that the audience could fall in love with. And we knew that was going to require very sophisticated CGI technology. But we also wanted it to feel very real. That’s why we wanted to shoot it in the real world. If it had been an animated movie, I think, in a way, it wouldn’t be so universal.”
Still from ‘Lilo, my friend the crocodile’
“Bardem was our first choice for Hector”
As for why Bardem was chosen for the role, Josh says, “He was our first choice. The character of Hector is very complex. It’s both very charming and very funny. But he also does things that aren’t particularly good in the movie. and we knew that we needed someone like Javier, who could seduce you and make you love, even doing these things. So he was our first choice and we are very happy that he accepted.”
“Actually,” adds Will, “we had a magician who taught Javier all these tricks. And then he kept repeating them over and over. So he basically became a wizard”.
Canadian Singer’s Choice Shawn Mendez interpreting Lilo is also a success, since the crocodile only communicates by singing. “Shawn has an incredible voice, that’s what we needed for Lilo. And at the same time, he also has this innocence and even this tenderness of the character. And a big heart, like Lilo”
Regarding the songs that Benj Pasek and Justin Paul have written, Josh admits: “We have been fans of them for many years. We wanted it to not just be pretty songs, but they would advance the plot of the film. And they managed to turn them into memorable and, at the same time, very catchy songs. We pinched ourselves in admiration, because they were really good.
Lilo, my friend the crocodile, in theaters this Friday, October 21.
Still from ‘Lilo, my friend the crocodile’
“Incurable alcohol evangelist. Unapologetic pop culture scholar. Subtly charming webaholic.”
