| Leo | |
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| Distributed by | Netflix |
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Running time | 102 minutes[1] |
| Countries | United States Australia |
| Language | English |
Leo is a 2023 animatedmusicalcomedy film directed by Robert Marianetti,Robert Smigel and David Wachtenheim (in Marianetti and Wachtenheim's feature directorial debuts), written by Smigel,Adam Sandler, and Paul Sado, and produced by Sandler andMireille Soria. The second animated feature from Sandler's production companyHappy Madison Productions which came 21 years afterEight Crazy Nights (2002), it stars the voices of Adam Sandler as the titular character,Bill Burr,Cecily Strong, andJason Alexander with supporting voice roles provided bySadie Sandler,Sunny Sandler,Rob Schneider,Jo Koy,Allison Strong, Jackie Sandler,Heidi Gardner, Robert Smigel, andNick Swardson. The film tells the story of atuatara longing for the wild and worried about dying who is taken home by different students per the assignment of a strict substitute teacher, but gets himself caught up in the troubles of each student and offers life advice to each of them.
Leo was released byNetflix on November 21, 2023, to generally positive reviews by critics, who praised the animation, vocal performances and musical numbers.
Longtime class pets Leo thetuatara and Squirtle theFlorida box turtle live in a fifth-grade classroom at aFort Myers elementary school. During a parent-teacher conference, the pregnant fifth-grade teacher Mrs. Salinas announces her maternity leave. As the parents come to express their displeasure with the substitute teacher whom Principal Spahn[a] has selected to cover for Mrs. Salinas, Leo overhears one of them say that tuataras live to be 75 years old and despairs when he realizes he is 74 and has not accomplished his dreams of going to theEverglades.
The next day, the strict substitute Virginia Malkin[b] arrives where she sends Mrs. Salinas on her way and is quickly loathed by the students.
Leo is taken home for the weekend by Summer, an overly talkative girl. While trying to make his escape, Leo accidentally reveals to Summer that he can talk and suggests to her that she ask more questions to improve her conversations with classmates. As a result, Summer becomes more popular. One by one, her fellow students Eli, Jayda, two boys both named Cole, Skyler, Logan, Mia, Kabir, TJ, Zane, and Anthony take Leo home each weekend, confiding in him with their own issues and concerns, to which he provides wisdom and support, improving each of their lives. However, Leo requests that each student keep his talking ability a secret from the others and doesn't tell any of them that the others know he can talk.
Jealous of the attention Leo is getting, Squirtle decides to expose him. Feeling betrayed, the class disregards Leo. Ms. Malkin takes Leo home when she discovers he talks and has been helping her students. Remembering Ms. Malkin when she was young, Leo learns that she never accomplished her dream of being a real teacher which is why she's always mean to the students and he attempts to give her advice.
The next day, the students win the history fair with their historical figure reenactments with their prize being a field trip to Magic Land Park. Wanting to take all the credit, Ms. Malkin abandons Leo at the Everglades. When the students want to apologize to Leo, Ms. Malkin reports that Leo left them.
As the students travel to Magic Land Park, a guilt-ridden Squirtle uses Eli'sdrone to catch up with them and reveals that Ms. Malkin lied to which she confesses. The students and Ms. Malkin hijack the bus and head to the Everglades. Meanwhile, Leo learns from wild tuataras that he can live to be over 110 years old, reinvigorating him. Leo is threatened by a congregation of alligators, but is rescued by Ms. Malkin and the students.
On the final day of the school year, Leo tells the class to look out for one another as they enter middle school. Ms. Malkin is given a full-time job as a teacher by Principal Spahn and is promptly assigned to thekindergarteners with Leo and Squirtle as the class pets.
In May 2016, it was reported thatAdam Sandler would produce (underHappy Madison Productions), write and star in an animated film project. At that timeSTX Entertainment was attached.[3]Leo was animated byNetflix Animation'sAnimal Logic.[4]The film's score was composed byGeoff Zanelli.[5]
Leo had a preview at theAnnecy International Animation Film Festival on June 14, 2023,[6] before its release byNetflix on November 21, 2023.[7]
On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 84% of 76 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.6/10. The website's consensus reads: "Slick animation, catchy songs, and some winning voice work from a cast led by Adam Sandler helpLeo strike an uneasy balance between satirical and sweet."[8]Metacritic, which uses aweighted average, assigned the film a score of 65 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[9]
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipients | Result |
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| Annie Awards | February 17, 2024 | Outstanding Achievement for Editorial | Patrick Voetberg, Joseph Titone, Darrian M. James, Danny Miller, and Brian Robinson | Nominated |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | December 12, 2023 | Best Animated Film | Leo | Nominated |
| Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | July 13, 2024 | Favorite Male Voice From An Animated Movie | Adam Sandler | Won |
