Keslee Blalock
Ivy
Overview
Cold, white mist. Clanking pipes. And an eerie voice that's coming from the drain. Is the school bathroom... haunted? Ivy and Bean are on the case!
Cast
12 people
Reviews
4 min readThe Ghost in the Girl
I’ve been thinking about the way children tell stories. Not the polished, practiced kind—the ones that begin with “Once upon a time” and end with a neat moral—but the messy, urgent ones, the kind that spill out in the middle of a sleepover or on a playground, where the rules of logic are more like suggestions. Ivy + Bean: The Ghost That Had to Go feels like one of those stories. It’s slight, just over an hour long, and yet it carries the weight of a child’s imagination in full flight: a ghost in the school bathroom, a mystery that must be solved, and two girls who refuse to be afraid of what they don’t understand.
That’s the thing about Ivy and Bean—they’re not afraid of much. Ivy, the quiet one with a head full of spells and potions, and Bean, the loud one who’s always getting into trouble, are the kind of friends who make the world feel bigger just by being in it. The film, based on Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall’s beloved book series, understands this dynamic instinctively.
It doesn’t try to overcomplicate their friendship or force a lesson where none is needed. Instead, it lets them be kids: curious, stubborn, and just a little bit reckless.
The ghost in question isn’t some terrifying specter, but a lonely, misunderstood presence trapped in the school’s plumbing. (How it got there, and why it’s so attached to the girls’ bathroom, is never fully explained—and that’s fine. Children’s stories don’t need to be airtight.) What matters is the way Ivy and Bean approach the problem.
Audience Opinions
Limited evidence
Audience 6.5/10
"A charming and lighthearted family comedy that stays true to its book roots, though it may feel too simple for older viewers."
The film is praised for its faithful adaptation of the beloved children's book, offering a fun and engaging story for younger audiences. However, some find the plot too straightforward and lacking depth, making it less appealing for older children or adults. latestnetflix.com's take is that the cast, particularly the young leads, receives positive attention for their energetic performances.
What viewers praise
- Faithful book adaptation Stays true to the original Ivy and Bean story, delighting fans of the series.
- Engaging young cast The child actors, especially Keslee Blalock and Madison Skye Validum, bring energy and charm to their roles.
- Lighthearted fun A cheerful and easy-to-watch film that works well for its target audience of young children.
Common complaints
- Too simplistic The story may feel too basic or predictable for older viewers or those seeking more complexity.
- Limited appeal Primarily caters to a very young audience, leaving older kids and adults wanting more substance.
Recommended for
Young children Fans of Ivy and Bean books Family movie nights Light comedy lovers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Ivy + Bean: The Ghost That Had to Go
Netflix’s 2022 family comedy Ivy + Bean: The Ghost That Had to Go brought the beloved book series to life with a fresh cast and a director known for heartfelt storytelling. latestnetflix.com's view is that while the film’s playful ghost mystery charmed young audiences, the production itself had its own share of behind-the-scenes magic—and a few surprises.
A Director with a Knack for Emotional Storytelling
Elissa Down, the Australian director behind the film, has built a career on projects that balance humor and heart. Best known for The Black Balloon (2008), Down’s work often explores themes of family and connection 
. For Ivy + Bean, she adapted Annie Barrows’ popular children’s book series, which follows two unlikely friends navigating childhood chaos. While the evidence doesn’t detail Down’s specific creative choices for this film, her past work suggests a focus on authentic, relatable characters—something that likely shaped the movie’s tone.
Casting the Dynamic Duo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elFLiFWGYXo
The film stars Keslee Blalock as Ivy and Madison Skye Validum as Bean, the mischievous best friends at the center of the story. The cast also includes familiar faces like Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and Garfield Wilson (The Flash), adding star power to the family-friendly project . A behind-the-scenes featurette featuring Mia SwamiNathan and Ava Marchfelder hints at the chemistry between the young actors, though specifics about rehearsals or on-set dynamics remain scarce .
From Page to Screen: Adapting the Book
Ivy + Bean: The Ghost That Had to Go is based on the second book in Annie Barrows’ series, which was first published in 2007 . While the film stays true to the book’s spirit—a ghostly mystery in an elementary school—the adaptation likely streamlined the story for a 61-minute runtime . Fans of the books may notice tweaks, but the core friendship between Ivy and Bean remains intact.
A Netflix After-School Hit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgrC5q5liGc
The movie was released as part of Netflix’s "After School" collection, a lineup of family-friendly films designed for young viewers. The trailer, which teases the ghostly antics and Ivy and Bean’s teamwork, suggests a lighthearted adventure with just the right amount of spookiness . While critical reception is limited, the film’s premise—two girls solving a supernatural mystery—aligns with the series’ reputation for blending humor and mild scares.
What We Don’t Know (Yet)
Despite the film’s charm, details about the production process are thin. There’s no confirmed word on behind-the-scenes challenges, budget, or whether the young cast bonded off-screen. Rumors about sequels or further adaptations of the book series remain unconfirmed, though the Netflix model makes follow-ups plausible.
For now, Ivy + Bean: The Ghost That Had to Go stands as a fun, kid-friendly romp—one that likely benefited from Down’s empathetic direction and a cast that brought the beloved characters to life.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.