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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
A new Netflix animated original film is around the corner, and just in time for this year’s Thanksgiving season. This coming-of-age animated musical comedy has everything for the whole family—and this time, we mean it!
Leo is written by Robert Smigel (Hotel Transylvania), producer Adam Sandler (Billy Madison, Big Daddy, Grown Ups, Hubie Halloween), and executive producer Paul Sado. The film is directed by Robert Marianetti, Smigel, and character designer and story artist David Wachtenheim.
In this review, I will discuss Netflix’s Leo. As the title of this article suggests, there will be no spoilers present here. References to previous works featuring Adam Sandler may be made!
Netflix’s Leo Synopsis
According to Netflix, here is the synopsis for Leo.
Actor and comedian Adam Sandler (Hotel Transylvania, The Wedding Singer) delivers signature laughs in this coming-of-age animated musical comedy about the last year of elementary school – as seen through the eyes of a class pet. Jaded 74-year-old lizard Leo (Sandler) has been stuck in the same Florida classroom for decades with his terrarium-mate turtle (Bill Burr). When he learns he only has one year left to live, he plans to escape to experience life on the outside but instead gets caught up in the problems of his anxious students — including an impossibly mean substitute teacher. It ends up being the strangest but most rewarding bucket list ever…
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Discussion
While Smigel, Sandler, and Sado’s screenplay shows seldom a smidge of logical sense, Leo—for some absurd and ridiculous reason—might go down as one of the most entertaining animated features of the year. It may not match the likes of bigger titles such as Nimona, Elemental, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Yet, it’s still quite the watch if you at least have a heart, admire musicals, and/or have a soft spot for Sandler’s more appealing works. Leo is the type of animated film you get when Billy Madison lives through the combined narratives of a certain classic Spielberg flick and Charlotte’s Web.
The absence of logos does enhance the appeal of some ethos and pathos. Marianetti, Smigel, and Wachtenheim’s film is shockingly unafraid to hit the hard points and themes of being a young person. Their story artists know just how to guide viewers throughout each and every scene. Even in the first few minutes alone, the screenwriters introduce their young characters with a sweet song, a brief and presumably fleeting statement about parents dying one day, sugarcoated with laughable moments such as AI making our very choices or the physical juxtaposition between kindergarteners and 5th graders.
Leo tests the waters of what Happy Madison can do with newer animation. Its opening act alone toys with narrative tropes and techniques such as breaking the fourth wall, flashbacks via montage, POV shots, and more. The basic plot structure, then, makes events a little easier to watch as the lizard bonds with the humans. With an original score by Zanelli and songs written by Smigel, how could you hate Leo? The music isn’t anything Oscar-worthy, although it is delightful enough to be deemed memorable.
The Nitty-Gritty of the Writing Behind Leo
From the first scene on, the screenwriters never waste a moment to relent in tackling themes like growing up, human connection, accentuating imperfection, socioeconomic class matters, the pricelessness of time, and broken home environments. Due to the logos being out of the picture, there is also the circumstance of stereotyping characters. Through the shared perspectives of Leo and Squirtle the turtle (voiced by Bill Burr), viewers can learn how being boxed into descriptions can be embraced or transcended.
The screenplay has some wise quotes to pull from it. It doesn’t get too political about what is going on in the world, but it does serve as a reminder that this is the life we all live and there is no avoiding it. Ultimately, Leonardo “Leo” the lizard (voiced by Adam Sandler) and those he influences learn about change and that it can only be a positive force if they allow it to be. Of course, that’s just life as we know it—the brisk transformation from a caterpillar to a butterfly bypassing the cocoon.
Sandler Comedy in the Animated Realm
The lack of logos can still be beneficial when looking at anti-heroic characters such as Ms. Virginia Malkin (voiced by Cecily Strong). For an elderly woman, this substitute teacher has the skillset of a street-level comic book character. Even the main 5th-grade teacher, Mrs. Salinas (voiced by Allison Strong), while not as present—and for good reason in her case—, is laugh-out-loud hilarious despite not trying to be, and Strong has such a heavenly voice when in a state of singing.
Personally, the comedy balances well with the more serious subject matter by lending levity to reality. For the older viewers, there are references and elements that are just too specific to not understand and still—for some illogical reason—they happen to be funny. While it isn’t some kind of Pixar film to get viewers to bawl their eyes out or a graphically comedic Sausage Party-esque animated title, this Netflix movie meets audiences in the middle and becomes a product on the scale between oversimplified and too complex.
The Crew Behind Leo
Patrick Voetberg and Joseph Titone serve as the editors for the film.
Darrian M. James is the associate editor. Co-producer Brian Robinson is the additional editor. Brittany Lewis, Thomas MacKenzie, and Lindsay Pulsifer are the assistant editors.
The original score is done by Geoff Zanelli, with original songs by Robert Smigel. Kevin Grady and Bryan Bonwell are the music supervisors.
Elmo Weber and Odin Benitez are the supervising sound editors. Joe Iemola, Aidan Benitez, and Mark Glassman are the sound effects editors.
Ken Karman is the supervising music editor. Chris King is the assistant music editor. Adam Olmsted is the score editor.
Amber Horn (MTV’s Awkward, The 100, On My Block, Hulu’s Sex Appeal) and Danielle Aufiero (Awkward, The 100, On My Block, Sex Appeal) serve as the casting directors for the voice actors. Ron Pennywell is the casting associate.
Animation Team
Ken Morrissey is the head of story. John Pettingill is the head of previsualization.
Jason Figliozzi is the animation director. Simon Rodgers is the production designer. Wouter Tulp, Patrick Mate, and David Wachtenheim are the lead character designers for the film.
David Ward is the animation supervisor. Kristen Anderson is the supervising art director.
The team of story artists includes Rune Bennicke, Steven Fonti, James Fujii, Alishea Gibson, Sam Hood, Jenny Lerew, Casey Lowe, Misty Marsden, Claire Morrissey, Lily Nguyen, Jeffrey Ranjo, Darrell Rooney, Ryan Savas, David Wachtenheim, Hyeon Jeong Chozon, Sebastien Duclos, Michael Kunkel, Donnie Long, and Satjit Singh Matharu.
The Voice Cast Behind Leo
Adam Sandler voices Leo, the titular lizard of the film.
Bill Burr (Breaking Bad, The Mandalorian, F Is for Family) voices Squirtle, a turtle and a 5th grade class pet alongside Leo.
Cecily Strong (Schmigadoon!) voices Ms. Virginia Malkin, the substitute teacher of Fort Myers Elementary School’s 5th grade class.
Allison Strong voices Mrs. Salinas, the teacher of Fort Myers’ 5th grade class. Jo Koy voices Coach Kimura.
Sadie Sandler voices Jayda, a popular child in the 5th grade class. Sunny Sandler voices Summer Chapman, a talkative child. Roey Smigel voices Eli, a hypochondriac student; and Benji Wenger, Jayda’s younger brother.
Coulter Ibanez voices Zane, a student who loves Cheetos. Bryant Tardy and Corey J provide the low and high voices of Cole H., respectively.
Reese Lores voices Mia Ruiz, a child from a divorced household. Benjamin Bottani voices Kabir, a 5th grade student from the Bronx, New York. Ethan Smigel voices Anthony Martello, the class bully.
Tienya Safko voices Skyler. Gloria Manning voices Logan. Carson Minniear voices Cole Wiseki. Aldan Liam Philipson voices TJ.
Parents
Jason Alexander (Seinfeld, Harley Quinn, History of the World: Part II) voices Mr. Wenger, Jayda’s father and a wealthy businessman. Jackie Sandler voices Mrs. Wenger, Jayda’s mother.
Heidi Gardner (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Shrinking) voices Julie, Eli’s mother. Paul Brittain voices Eli’s father.
Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once, Joy Ride) and Ryan Yu voice Skyler’s mother and father.
Nicholas Turturro and Rebecca Vigil voice Anthony’s father and mother.
Janie Haddad Tompkins (Regular Show, Made for Love) and Christopher Titone voice Summer’s mother and father.
Tiffany Topol voices both Cole Wiseki’s mother and Zane’s mother. Dan Reitz voices Cole Wiseki’s father.
Sunita Param voices Kabir’s mother. Sonya Leslie and Germar Terrell Gardner voices Logan’s mother and father.
Rose Abdoo voices both Mia’s mother and TJ’s mother. Alex Quijano voices Mia’s father. Christian Capozzoli voices TJ’s father.
Animals and Other Characters
Robert Smigel voices a miniature horse, Eli’s drone, and old lizards #1 and 3.
Nick Swardson voices Cinnabun, a bunny from another classroom.
Lileina Joy voices hamster kids #1 and 3. Joy and Elijah Kim provide featured vocals.
Christopher Titone also voices alligator #2 and stopwatch #1. Brittain also voices stopwatches #2 and 3.
Sheila Carrasco voices Mrs. Wingo. Doug Dale voices the bubble guy, a goldfish from another classroom, and a possum at the Everglades.
David Wachtenheim voices old lizard #2, a frog from another classroom, and a taunting firefly.
Co-director Robert Marianetti voices flamingo #1. Chris Kattan voice alligator #1.
Nora Wyman voices an Amazon Echo. Jonathan Loughran voices an animal handler.
Blake Clark voices golfer #1. Joel Marsh Garland voices a camel and golfer #2. John Farley voices golfer #3.
Noah Robbins voices a waiter and a kiosk attendant. Frankie Figliozzi voices Kayla. Kyra Wachtenheim voices a torture montage kid and Benji.
Aliza Pelavin voices a mouse and hamster kid #2.
Katie Hartman voices a road rage driver. Jonny Solomon voices a snake from another classroom.
Additional Voices
Additional voices include Ava Acres, Ryan Bartley, Ranjani Brow, Nikki Castillo, Mary Deaton, Chase Fein, Giselle Fernandez, Jason Griffith, Ashley Lambert, Terence Mathews, Scott Menville, David Michie, Andrew Morgado, Andre Robinson, Warren Sroka, Kelly Stables, Jaquita Ta’le, and Shelby Young.
Voice Performances and Character Developments
At this point in time, Adam Sandler has solidified himself as a character actor whose cinematic repertoire is full of hits and misses. It’s difficult to separate the voice from the man. Yet, there are qualities of the lizard that are quite interesting. Like Grown Ups or, more recently, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, Sandler himself uses his character to slowly pass the torch onto the younger ones, which is an honorable thing to do with one’s legacy. Using Burr’s Squirtle as a foil to Leo is great as we get to see where the protagonist falls into the different categories of right and wrong.
Sadie and Sunny Sandler are unique voices for the world of animation. Their respective characters, Jayda Wenger and Summer Chapman, are just two of the several archetypes of students one would come to know in the public school system. It’s nice seeing how they compare and contrast as children, but at the end of the day, they’re just both young humans with some heart. Indeed, the Sandler name is in good hands with these two actors making their names in the industry!
Out of all the young characters in this Netflix film, Leo shares his strongest scene with Mia Ruiz (voiced by Reese Lores). While she isn’t as magical as Roald Dahl’s Matilda, this kid uses her knowledge to provide answers to questions of emotion and, consequently, character. Initially, this is a moment where the writing will challenge viewers’ beliefs of these core concepts. However, it eventually leads to false beliefs being proven wrong, and everyone is all the better for it.
Final Thoughts on Netflix’s Leo
Through its universal ideals, this movie has rewatch value for the whole family. It looks at technology and nature and shows how humans can try to co-exist with them, which is as posthuman as it gets. With works including Billy Madison, Big Daddy, Little Nicky, and Click, Netflix’s Leo is a warm-welcomed addition to the Sandler family filmography. If you are looking to hit the Play button on anything during this festive season, then this animated title is one option to choose.
4.0/ 5 stars
Leo streams via Netflix starting next Tuesday, November 21st!
What are your thoughts on another Adam Sandler-led film? Let us know! For more animation, comedy, coming-of-age, and musical-related news and reviews, do not forget to follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
