Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun book-based movie has some taunts, imagined peril.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Ivy + Bean
What's the Story?
Bean (Madison Skye Validum), one half of the IVY + BEAN duo, is a little girl who likes to play in the mud and has a wild imagination. Her constant motion tries the patience of her parents (Marci T. House and Garfield Wilson) and, especially, big sister Nancy (Lidya Jewett), who is no longer interested in playing outside; she's more concerned about shopping and getting her ears pierced. Bean thinks new neighbor Ivy (Keslee Blalock), who wears dresses and headbands and reads a lot of books, seems boring. But one day when fate throws them together, Bean discovers that Ivy is a witch-in-training who enjoys adventures as much as Bean. Together they hatch a plan to cast a spell on Nancy, though this will also involve avoiding the neighborhood mean lady (Nia Vardalos) and might mean enlisting the help of twins Travis and Trevor (Hudson and Parker Hua).
Is It Any Good?
With adorable stars and inventive visualizations of children's imaginations, this adaptation is worthy of the bestselling books that served as inspiration. At just under an hour, Ivy + Bean is the right length for young viewers (and their parents). The two main characters are brought to life by stars Validum and Blalock as genuine little girls whose make-believe worlds feel entirely real to them. They fully believe they can cast spells, hide from adults in plain sight, storm through jungles like khaki-clad adventurers, catch and train bears, and so on.
The film helps viewers enter into their imaginary worlds by enacting what the girls are thinking. In that way, it captures the creativity of kids and allows us to feel moments from their perspective, which includes the utter boredom of shopping with family and how large and intimidating an antagonistic adult can feel. While Bean's behavior at the start borders on bratty, the film successfully renders the ingenuity of kids when they're relieved of responsibilities, devoid of screens, and simply left to play.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the Ivy + Bean films compare with the books, if you've read them. What surprised you? What can films do better than books, and vice versa?
Is Nancy a bad sister? Is Bean? Do Bean's parents treat her differently than they treat Nancy? Are they fair to both girls?
How does the movie envision what Ivy and Bean are imagining? Can you think of other ways to do this?
Why is outdoor play and using one's imagination so important?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : September 2, 2022
- Cast : Madison Skye Validum , Keslee Blalock , Nia Vardalos
- Director : Elissa Down
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Book Characters , Friendship
- Run time : 57 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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