LYLE, YOU CROC MY WORLD

Jaci Hernandez Staff Writer

“Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile” debuted in theaters on Oct. 7 and appeared on Netflix on Feb. 4.

It is a movie about a family that moves to New York just to find a crocodile living in their attic. This movie is based on the children’s books about Lyle the crocodile.

Lyle is played by Shawn Mendes, who lends his singing voice throughout the movie.

This is Mendes’ first major role in a film and, in my opinion, he doesn’t disappoint. Mendes became Lyle and gave him a voice. I couldn’t imagine Lyle being anyone else.

By being able to sing, Lyle shows that he is different from other crocodiles. It is this difference that makes him known to a character named Hector P. Valenti.

Hector takes in Lyle as a kid and raises him for a while, until Hector realizes that Lyle has stage fright.

This turn of events changes things in the course of the story, because once Hector realizes this, he leaves Lyle to go make money elsewhere.

To me, this makes the movie go from a children’s film, to a production with some emotional depth to it.

After Hector leaves, Lyle has learn how to survive on his own. While doing so, a new family moves into the space Lyle is occupying.

The family has a son named Josh. Josh is new to the city just wants to make friends. What he didn’t expect, though, was meeting Lyle instead.

This leads to a journey of growth for each member of the family and for Hector, who comes back later in the movie.

I personally enjoyed the character of Lyle; seeing his and the family’s journey was great to watch.

For a movie that’s supposed to be for little kids, it made me go through quite the emotional journey. I even connected to the smaller things that Lyle and Josh went through.

I think part of the reason this movie was good was because of how well the actors did with their characters, specifically Winslow Fegley, who plays Josh, and Constance Wu, who plays Josh’s mom, Mrs. Primm.

Some of my favorite scenes in the movie are the scenes of Lyle with both Mrs. Primm and Josh. These scenes give off an accepting, freeing and familial dynamic that makes me like the movie just a bit more.

The creators of this movie make it so that kids and adults of any age can enjoy it. It’s the perfect family movie or just the film to watch if you want to listen to some good singing.

It’s also great to watch if you’re in need of something wholesome. I have wanted to watch this movie for months, and I finally had the chance once

Scott Smith Staff Writer

From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 21, the Cameron University Duncan campus treated students and faculty to a Mardi Gras themed pancake luncheon.

The CU Wesley Foundation hosted the event, serving pancakes, sausage and juice to hungry students.

The CU Wesley Foundation is a student ministry of the United Methodist Church. CU Wesley’s mission is to reach students, grow disciples and to send servants back out into the world to make a difference for the Kingdom of God.

CU Wesley hosted the event CU Duncan’s ‘fishbowl,’ a common area for study and events on the Duncan campus.

They decorated the tables in typical

Mardi Gras fashion, complete with colorful table runners, masks and various strands of beads.

The pancakes were also Mardi Gras themed. Event staff dyed the pancake batter to match the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold.

Michaela Drain is the Wesley Director for the Cameron University Wesley Foundation. Drain said she chose Mardi Gras, which is also known as “Fat Tuesday,” so students could celebrate and feel free to eat all the pancakes they wanted.

“Fat Tuesday is the day before the Lenten season begins on the Christian calendar and is regarded as a day of indulgence,” Drain said. “It is typically a day to indulge in things that you will give up for the season of lent.”

Drain said that some people already celebrate Fat Tuesday with King

Cakes that have similar ingredients, so pancakes were a natural choice.

“Back in the day, it was fatty things like butter and eggs which are all found in pancakes,” Drain said. “So that is why we are having a pancake lunch.”

Drain also explained how the idea came to her when students from the Duncan campus reached out to the Wesley Foundation and asked them to host an event.

“We were already having worship night on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 in Lawton at the Wesley Foundation building,” Drain said. “So, when Duncan reached out, we already had the stuff and we can definitely have a pancake lunch. Too easy!”

CU Duncan student Chelsea Black said that she was excited that the Wesley Foundation was able to put on the pancake event.

“I was glad to get to work with Michaela to bring CU Wesley to Duncan,” Black said, “and we are looking forward to more events in the future.”

Matthew Hasley was one of the lucky students able to partake in the free pancakes and sausage.

“I certainly didn’t expect this when I came into the room,” Hasley said, “but I really appreciate what they (CU Wesley) are doing for students.”

CU Wesley is currently planning more events for both the Lawton and Duncan campuses, so be sure to watch for announcements.

For more information about CU Wesley, you can check out their website at cuwesley.org, connect on Facebook or Instagram @cuwesley, or visit them in person at 500 SW 27th Street in Lawton.