Parents' Guide to A Sloth Story

This is a solidly entertaining, if predictable, animated adventure about a speedy sloth girl who learns the value of slowing down. With A Sloth Story, Australian animation duo Tania Vincent and Ricard Cussó continue their "Tales of Sanctuary City" series of movies about animals in an Aussie-inspired setting. Laura and her family, who are portrayed as Mexican, want to share their traditions with their new community, while Dotti is an entrepreneur who prioritizes quantity over quality. It's understandable that Laura initially admires Dotti, whom Jones voices with commanding boss energy, but as the cheetah's greedy motives emerge, viewers may feel frustrated with the naive Laura, who believes she knows better than her parents about their restaurant's future.

Still, kids will enjoy the movie's quirky side characters, like Laura's adorable new kiwi friend and her cricket teammates, who appreciate how quickly she masters the sport. And the heart of this story is Laura's character development as she begins to understand her parents—particularly her mother, who has great expectations of and for her. The screenplay includes fun visual references to other films, including the Indiana Jones series, zombie movies, and even Braveheart. While the animation isn't exceptional, it has the type of standard, computer-generated polish that effectively anthropomorphizes the animals. Though the plot is relatively straightforward, the meaningful character development makes A Sloth Story a worthwhile family movie night pick.