Parents' Guide to

Ava & LaLa

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Mythic tale set in land of animals and danger is confusing.

Movie PG 2014 82 minutes
Ava & LaLa Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

Little Ava, a wannabe martial arts expert, is always in trouble when we meet her in AVA & LALA. She doesn't listen to her dad; she never wants to be told what to do; she's mischievous, loud, and rude. But one day, when she takes off on her own and meets LaLa, a cuddly, talking animal, part lion and part tiger, Ava gets into more trouble than she bargained for. Riding inside a magic whale, she and LaLa arrive on the island of Cloudland, where animals rule and humans are definitely not wanted. In fact, Ava is the only human present! When she's discovered, armies of animals set out to capture her. Though at first Ava loves the adventure and the intrigue, it isn't long before she realizes she desperately wants to go home. Meanwhile, a malevolent tiger, called "The General," anxiously searches for "the anointed one," a mysterious creature not yet revealed who possesses enough power to destroy all the humans in the world. The only thing standing in the General's way is Cloudland's kindly leader and Big Bear, the grudging protector of Ava and LaLa who must continually come to their rescue. It's all a race against time. Will Ava escape? Will LaLa find his true place among the inhabitants of Cloudland? Will the General succeed in his evil plan?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

The fantastical island is original and beautiful. Ava is endearing in spite of her naughtiness. But the viewer must follow an alarming number of "rules of the game," which, along with its twists and turns, make the story cumbersome and hard to follow. Examples of these "rules": Ava will be turned into an animal if she remains on the island for three days; "the anointed one" will be turned into stone at a certain time; nine distinctive "herds" must be unified before any action can be taken." Additionally, the movie lacks humor; what little there is often seems forced. Generally, it's an earnest effort but heavy-handed, too violent for little kids, and burdened by its rather clumsy attempts to combine spiritual concepts with adventure.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the movie's underlying idea that humans are destructive and irresponsible. Name some specific human behaviors that might have led the animals to feel this way. What can be done or is being done to change that? How can you contribute to the effort?

  • What did Ava learn from her adventure in Cloudland? In what ways might she be different when she returned to her home?

  • Think about the tiger called "The General." Describe the visual and sound techniques the filmmakers used to make him fearsome and scary.

Movie Details

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