Name: Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance
Genre: Family, Comedy
Released: 2022-09-02T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Keslee Blalock, Madison Skye Validum, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Lidya Jewett, Garfield Wilson

The moment Ivy (Keslee Blalock) and Bean (Madison Skye Validum) realize their ballet class won’t involve “sword-fighting, kicking or dancing to the death” is a pitch-perfect encapsulation of Elissa Down’s Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance. The film, based on Annie Barrows’ bestselling book series, follows these two spirited seven-year-olds as they navigate the rigors of ballet class and an impending recital. It’s a family comedy that understands its young audience without pandering to them.

Down, known for her work on The Saddle Club, brings a light touch to this adaptation, allowing the chemistry between Blalock and Validum to drive the narrative. The duo’s dynamic—one imaginative and dreamy (Ivy), the other pragmatic and mischievous (Bean)—is the film’s strongest asset. Their banter and shared misadventures in ballet class are genuinely funny, with scenes like their failed attempt to fake injuries to avoid the recital standing out as highlights.

The supporting cast is serviceable, though Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s Monsieur Joy, the ballet instructor, is somewhat underutilized. His character could have added more comedic heft, but his interactions with Ivy and Bean are consistently charming. The film’s pacing is brisk, and Down’s direction keeps the energy high, even when the plot meanders slightly in its second act.

However, Doomed to Dance isn’t without its flaws. The film’s reliance on slapstick humor sometimes feels repetitive, and the resolution of Ivy and Bean’s ballet class predicament is a bit too neat. Additionally, some of the adult characters, particularly the parents, feel one-dimensional, serving more as plot devices than fully realized individuals.

That said, the film’s originality shines through in its depiction of childhood friendship and the universal struggle of trying new things. The message—embodied by Ivy’s mom (Lidya Jewett) urging her to “try things to learn who she is”—resonates without feeling preachy. The film also benefits from a vibrant color palette and whimsical production design that captures the imaginative world of its young protagonists.

In the end, Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance is a enjoyable, if somewhat uneven, entry in the family comedy genre.