Arlo the Alligator Boy is serviceable. It has delightful art, bouncy musical sequences and positive vibes going around. It left me feeling content but far from whole. It's an overstretched pilot episode. I understand a series is planned to follow it but you spend a lot of time with quirky-looking characters and don't really learn anything about them. Also the twists in the final act are bizarre, out of nowhere and left me asking several questions rather than being fulfilled.

I suppose as a pilot to a series it works okay in that sense, but it should've been cut down at least 20 minutes. Heck, maybe even 30. As a feature-length film, it's lacking and not well paced. That said, the visuals and music are still a fine all ages hoot and there's humor in there to satisfy everyone. Despite being a sluggish mess, the effort and passion still shows.

Sort of more like a Saturday morning cartoon than a feature film, this tries so hard to bring the feels for its Spongebob-esque protagonist who meets a rag-tag group of misfit criminals.

A story about belonging, family and positive spirits, there's nothing much original here but its greeting card aesthetic is pretty agreeable.

The songs mostly blend into one except that "Follow" one.

I remember watching the first act and thinking that I was 40% sure that they would reveal that someone nailed an alligator.

That much is the truth, but just watch...

Arlo The Alligator Boy is an amazing film filled with friendship, adventure and lots of singing. This is a film with great messages and really catchy songs. It is definitely worth the watch.

Arlo The Alligator Boy is about Arlo (Michael J. Woodard) who arrived at the swamp when he is just a baby. When he is older, he finds out that he has a dad who lives in New York City and sets off to find him. On the way, Arlo gets into some trouble when two people try to kidnap him to make some money. With the help of Bertie (Mary Lambert),Arlo escapes and makes a new friend. He makes a few more friends as he makes his way to New York City and they become really close and begin to feel like a family.

The songs in this film are very catchy. The words and tempo really let us know what the characters are feeling. My favorite song is "Follow Me Home." The melody is infectious, in a good way, and shows that wherever the ocean is, it feels like home to Bertie. My favorite character is Arlo because he is adventurous, caring and daring. Even though he had never left the swamp before, Arlo overcame his fear and set off to find his dad in New York City, which is a long way from the swamp. Arlo and the friends he makes along the way get really close as the movie goes on. The development of these relationships can be relatable to some friend groups in real life.

The message of Arlo The Alligator Boy is to never give up and, if you stick together, you can achieve great things. It is totally family-friendly.

Arlo The Alligator Boy is an awesome film to watch. I give it 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 7 to 13. Adults will also enjoy it. Arlo The Alligator Boy is available on Netflix April 16, 2021. Go check it out! Reviewed by Giana N., KIDS FIRST!