Not that Adam Sandler’s career was in jeopardy or anything, but the deal he struck with Netflix has been the best thing that ever happened to it. He’s putting out quality films like Hustle, while giving his fans the silly comedies that they love such as Murder Mystery (which ain’t bad), and still has the time to work with the Safdies on movies such as Uncut Gems. But now his Netflix deal takes a different route as he voices the lead character in an animated movie, Leo, that arrives just in time for Thanksgiving.
The premise is actually kinda cool, as it centers on a 74-year-old lizard (Sandler) who has been stuck in the same terrarium as a classroom pet for decades, alongside a turtle voiced by Bill Burr. When Leo learns it’s the final year of elementary school and that he only has a short time left to live, he decides it’s time to escape and experience the outside world.
A mix of Sandler pals and Netflix favorites are in the voice cast: Cecily Strong, Jason Alexander, Sadie Sandler, Sunny Sandler, Rob Schneider, Jo Koy, Jackie Sandler, Heidi Gardner, Robert Smigel, Nick Swardson, Stephanie Hsu, and Nicholas Turturro. The film is directed by Robert Marianetti, Robert Smigel, and David Wachtenheim.
Leo hits Netflix on November 21st.
Here’s the synopsis: 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…
