Keslee Blalock
Ivy
Overview
Ivy and Bean never expected to be friends. Ivy is quiet, thoughtful and observant. Bean is playful, exuberant and fearless. However, sometimes an adventure reveals that opposites can become the best of friends.
Cast
11 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Alchemy of Opposites: How Ivy + Bean Turns Childhood into a Shared Secret
I’ve always been suspicious of films that promise to capture the "magic of childhood." Too often, that magic is a euphemism for sanitized nostalgia—a world scrubbed of scraped knees, boredom, and the quiet, gnawing loneliness of being seven years old. But Ivy + Bean, Elissa Down’s adaptation of Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall’s beloved book series, sidesteps that trap.
It doesn’t romanticize childhood so much as it alchemizes it: turning the ordinary into something strange, funny, and deeply human. The film’s real subject isn’t adventure, but the way two mismatched girls invent a language of their own.
At just 56 minutes, Ivy + Bean feels like a story told in the hushed tones of a sleepover, where the nightlight hasn’t quite banished the shadows. The runtime isn’t a flaw—it’s a choice. This is a film that understands its audience: kids with short attention spans, yes, but also kids who live in a world of micro-dramas—who can turn a missing hair tie into a tragedy or a backyard into a kingdom.
The brevity forces the film to distill its themes to their essence. There’s no room for filler, no subplot that doesn’t serve the central question: How do you become someone’s person?
The answer, for Ivy and Bean, is through shared mischief. Ivy (Keslee Blalock) is the kind of child who wears a beret and practices "magic" in her treehouse, her nose perpetually in a book about spells. Bean (Madison Skye Validum) is all kinetic energy—grinning, fidgeting, a whirlwind of pigtails and scraped elbows.
Their first meeting is a disaster: Bean, exiled to her backyard for some forgotten infraction, pelts Ivy’s house with a water balloon, only to discover that Ivy’s response isn’t outrage but fascination. "You’re interesting," Ivy declares, as if Bean has just performed a magic trick. It’s a line that could feel cutesy in lesser hands, but here it lands like a revelation.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.8/10
"A charming and faithful adaptation of the beloved books, though some find it too simplistic for older viewers."
Young audiences and fans of the book series appreciate the movie’s sweet, inventive spirit and the chemistry between the two lead characters. However, some viewers feel the humor and plot are too childish, lacking depth for those outside the target age group. The visual style and faithfulness to the source material are frequently praised, latestnetflix.com contends, but the pacing and simplicity of the story divide opinions.
What viewers praise
- Faithful to books Stays true to the tone and characters of the original book series, delighting fans of the stories.
- Strong lead chemistry The friendship between Ivy and Bean feels authentic and endearing, with natural performances from the young actors.
- Sweet and inventive The movie’s playful and imaginative scenarios resonate well with its intended young audience.
- Visual appeal Bright, colorful, and visually engaging, making it an enjoyable watch for kids.
Common complaints
- Too simplistic Some viewers find the plot and humor too basic, lacking appeal for older children or adults.
- Slow pacing The story moves at a leisurely pace, which may test the patience of some younger viewers.
- Limited depth Character development and plot complexity are minimal, focusing more on surface-level fun.
Recommended for
Young children Fans of the book series Family movie nights Lighthearted adventure seekers Early readers
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Ivy + Bean: Netflix’s Charming New Friendship Duo
Netflix’s 2022 adaptation of Ivy + Bean brings the beloved children’s book series to life with a fresh, energetic cast and a director known for her knack with young talent. The film, helmed by Elissa Down, follows the misadventures of two unlikely best friends—spirited Ivy (Keslee Blalock) and rule-following Bean (Madison Skye Validum)—as they navigate childhood chaos with humor and heart. While the movie’s on-screen chemistry has won over audiences, the behind-the-scenes story offers a glimpse into how this dynamic duo came together.
Casting the Perfect Pair
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4NeKJyFr4Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foznVxyxL0k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnTHcBPvaJ4
The search for the right actors to play Ivy and Bean was no small feat. Keslee Blalock, who stars as Ivy, has been vocal about her excitement for the role, sharing in interviews that she connected instantly with the character’s creativity and boldness. In a YouTube chat, Blalock revealed that she and Validum bonded quickly on set, which helped their on-screen friendship feel authentic . Validum, meanwhile, has described Bean as a character who “doesn’t always follow the rules but has a big heart,” a trait she embraced during filming .
Supporting the young leads is a mix of seasoned and rising talent, including Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and Garfield Wilson, who add depth to the adults in Ivy and Bean’s world. The Hua brothers, Hudson and Parker, also appear, though their roles remain minor in the film’s tight 56-minute runtime 
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A Director’s Touch
Elissa Down, known for her work on family-friendly projects, directed not just the main Ivy + Bean film but also two additional shorts tied to the franchise: Ivy + Bean: The Ghost That Had to Go (61 minutes) and Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance (53 minutes) . These companion pieces expand the world of the characters, though the main film stands alone as the core introduction to the duo.
Down’s approach to the material leans into the books’ whimsical tone, balancing slapstick humor with genuine emotional moments. While the evidence doesn’t detail specific directorial challenges, the film’s pacing and visual style suggest a focus on keeping the energy high for its young audience .
What’s Next for Ivy and Bean?
As of now, there’s no official confirmation of a sequel, but the success of the film and its companion shorts hints at potential for more. Blalock and Validum have both expressed enthusiasm for returning, with Validum joking in an interview that she’d “love to see Bean get into even more trouble” . Rumors of additional adaptations have swirled, but nothing concrete has been announced.
For now, fans can enjoy the film’s lighthearted charm and the undeniable chemistry between its leads—a testament to the cast’s off-screen camaraderie.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.