Leo is an American animated musical comedy film from 2023 that was written by Smigel, Adam Sandler, and Paul Sado, produced by Sandler and Mireille Soria, and directed by Robert Marianetti, Robert Smigel, and David Wachtenheim (in Marianetti and Wachtenheim’s feature-directing debuts). In the lead voice role, Sandler is joined by Bill Burr, Cecily Strong, Jason Alexander, Sadie Sandler, Sunny Sandler, Rob Schneider, Jo Koy, Allison Strong, Jackie Sandler, Heidi Gardner, Robert Smigel, and Nick Swardson in the second animated film from Happy Madison Productions. It narrates the tale of a tuatara who is brought home by various students on the orders of a harsh substitute teacher but who longs to be in the wild and is afraid of dying.
Storyline
Leo the tuatara and Squirtle the turtle, two cherished class pets, reside in a fifth-grade classroom at a Fort Myers Elementary School. Mrs. Salinas, the fifth-grade teacher, announces her maternity leave during a parent-teacher conference. Leo overhears one of the parents say that tuataras live to be 75 years old and becomes depressed when he learns he is 74 and has not achieved his dreams. When Ms. Malkin, the severe substitute, shows up the following day, the pupils soon come to detest her.
Summer is a chatty girl who takes Leo home for the weekend. In an attempt to get away, Leo unintentionally shows Summer that he can speak and advises her to start asking more questions in order to have better conversations with her classmates. Summer consequently gains popularity. After a while, all of the students bring Leo home and confide in him; he offers guidance and encouragement that enhances each student’s life. Leo asks each pupil, though, to keep his talking skills a secret from the other students.
Squirtle resolves to expose Leo because she is envious of the attention he is receiving. Disregarding Leo, the class feels deceived. When Ms. Malkin finds out that Leo speaks and has been assisting her students, she takes him home. When Leo finds out that she never succeeded in realizing her dream of becoming a teacher, he tries to provide her guidance.
Leo (Official Trailer)
Voice cast
- Adam Sandleras Leo, a 74-year-old tuatara and a 5th grade class pet
- Bill Burras Squirtle, a turtle and a 5th grade class pet
- Cecily Strongas Ms. Malkin, the strict 5th grade substitute teacher
- Jason Alexanderas Jayda’s dad, a dermatologist
- Rob Schneideras the principal
- Allison Strongas Mrs. Salinas, a 5th grade teacher who goes on maternity leave
- Jo Koyas Coach Komura, a gym teacher
- Sadie Sandler as Jayda, a student
- Sunny Sandler as Summer, a student
- Coulter Ibanez as Zane, a student
- Bryant Tardy and Corey J. as Cole. Tardy provides Cole’s low voice while Corey J. provides Cole’s high voice.
- Ethan Smigel as Anthony, a held-back class bully
- Tienya Safko as Skyler, a student who is part of Jayda’s circle of friends
- Gloria Manning as Logan, a student who is part of Jayda’s circle of friends
- Carson Minniear as Cole #2, a student.
- Roey Smigel as:
- Eli, a boy who is often sheltered by his overprotective parents
- Benji
- Reese Lores as Mia, a huggy student who is a science wiz and has recently-divorced parents
- Benjamin Bottani as Kabir, a student
- Aldan Liam Phillipson as TJ, a student who grew his first back hair.
- Jackie Sandler as Jayda’s Mom
- Heidi Gardneras Eli’s mom
- Robert Smigelas:
- A miniature horse that is among the animals that Leo frees at Jayda’s party
- A drone that follows Eli around on his parent’s behalf
- Old lizard #1
- Old lizard #3
- Nick Swardsonas Cinnabun, a rabbit in a 2nd grade classroom who is constantly renamed every year.
- Lileina Joy as:
- Hamster Kid #1
- Hamster Kid #3
- Featured Vocals
- Elijah Kim as Featured Vocals
- Stephanie Hsuas Skyler’s mom
- Nicholas Turturroas Anthony’s dad
