Ava is a mischievous little girl who does what she wants and doesn’t let anyone tell her what to do. She is often running away in search of adventure, which generally gets her into trouble.
On one of her adventures she meets Lala, a cuddly and sweet-tempered tiger-like creature, and discovers that they can talk to each other. They both end up in a mystical kingdom of animals called Cloudland – a sanctuary away from humans.
The two befriend a bear who is quite grizzly but has a heart of gold. He informs Ava that she has three days to leave and agrees to help her escape before Tiger General finds out there is a human on Cloudland. Lala is often picked on for being small and not like the other animals, but is actually quite special. As a result, Lala is captured by the mean Tiger General and it is up to Ava and Mr Bear to rescue him in time to get Ava safely back home.
Ava and Lala is an animated adaptation from the popular Chinese version titled Yugo and Lala. It is an action packed film, but could be overwhelming for some. There is a fair bit of violence, and situations like falling from cliffs and other excessively high places. This could be too scary for younger or sensitive children.
The voice cast includes Tom Arnold, JK Simmons and, Star Trek’s George Takei (Star Trek) as Rat, the Old Master and Mentor, who captures the essence of the character well. Cloudland is beautifully realised with magical elements – just like a child’s imagination.
There are a number of ‘moral lessons’ as well, which are meaningful and relevant, such as being kind to animals and nature, being considerate to others and what it means to be a good friend. These factors help to make Ava and Lala a worthwhile film for a suitable audience.
Reviewed by Adriana Allman
Rating out of 10: 6
Ava and Lala is available now on DVD.
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