Today’s review is about the latest Adam Sandler Netflix family film, the animated movie Leo. It stars Adam Sandler and Bill Burr and was directed David Wachtenheim, Robert Marianettie and Robert Smigel.

It’s the story about LEO a 74yr old lizard who has spent his entire life living in a fifth-grade classroom as the class pet when after talking with his aquarium mate Squirtle the Turtle (voiced by Bill Burr) he decides that he’s had enough of just lounging around and it’s time to try and escape his life and live a little.

Soon after the new school year starts, the kids are each tasked with taking one of the class pets home for the weekend and it’s here that LEO plans to make his escape. Accidentally, Leo reveals to his first host that he can talk and while chatting with her, he gives her a life lesson that he learned during his 74yrs of observing people. Eventually, other kids learn of Leo’s ability to speak and he quickly becomes the class favorite.

Each child who takes him home tells him about some of their personal struggles and he gives them advice as a sort of class therapist or life coach. Many of these lessons are told through song and dance and at first, I have to say I wasn’t sure I was into it. I’m not really one who enjoys musicals but not only did I find them to be rather catchy, but they all included really funny but also great lessons that I think perhaps everyone should pay better attention to.

I honestly wouldn’t be terribly surprised if one of the songs garnered an Oscar nomination.

The animation is really pretty and the performances from all the actors were a real treat. Of note, LEO is the second time this year that Sandler made a film that ended up being a family affair as his daughters and wife also had roles. Burr and Sandler were a great tandem as Squirtle and Leo I’d love to see these 2 comedic juggernauts together in a feature film.

LEO was a really fun movie that I think stands among the best-animated features that 2023 has to offer. Kids and adults alike will surely fall in love with LEO the same way my family did.

Leo is available on Netflix November 17th 2023