"Sketch" Review: Family Film Embraces Childhood Wonder

Audio By Carbonatix

Early in the new family film Sketch, the main character says, “My Dad says you can’t control your Inbox but you can control your Outbox.”  The sentiment, of course, reflects the idea that people can’t control what happens to them or what they receive but individuals can control what they put out into the universe. The creators of this new film should be proud of what they put into the universe.

Writer/director Seth Worley truly created something special.

Bianca Belle stars as Amber Wyatt, a young girl who spends a lot of her time sketching different monsters and creatures. That artistry gets her into trouble when her violent images cause some concern at school. Instead of chastising the student, the empathetic school therapist encourages Amber to keep putting her emotions into her work, rather than carrying them around like an albatross around her neck.  

While Amber spends her time drawing, her father Taylor (Tony Hale) spends his time getting his house ready for sale. His sister Liz (D’Arcy Carden), a real estate agent, is working to sell the home that Taylor shares with Amber and her brother Jack (Kue Lawrence). After Jack discovers a lake that seems to “fix” broken things, Amber accidentally drops her notebook into it. Although the colors in the notebook fade, the creations from her imagination don’t and the monsters she drew slowly come to life in the community.

Although the concept shares some similarities to the adult-oriented Stephen King novel Pet Cemetery, this family-friendly feature is color-soaked and playful. While other school professionals might deter Amber from her drawings, her therapist is comforting and kind, supporting the uniqueness and beauty of Amber’s imagination. That’s exactly what the feature does: it embraces the power a child’s imagination and the benefits that come from creating art.

Worley brings the story to life with full fleshed-out creatures, crafting monsters that are unique and carefully-crafted. Admittedly, there are a few tense sequences so very young children should steer clear but for older children and adults, this feature offers dramatic moments that capture the anxiety of the situations without getting graphic.

There is an innocence and a kindness at the heart of the story as each of the characters oftentimes do what they believe is best for the situation. There’s no cynicism here. As Taylor, Tony Hale presents a different side of himself, offering viewers a look at the serious side of the comedic Emmy-award winning actor. Meanwhile, Carden — who was once so memorable as the robotic Janet on The Good Place — shows how strong she can be as a well-grounded character. However, it’s the kids here — Belle, Lawrence and scene-stealing Kalon Cox as the quick-witted Bowman Lynch — who carry much of the story’s weight. They capture the optimistic innocence of children dealing with fantasies becoming their reality.

At a brisk 93 minutes, this joyful feature tells a creative fully-realized story while capturing all of the players involved. In the final moments, it also offers some valuable lessons about creative expression and how both children and adults should understand and express their emotions rather than keep them bottled up. Packed with unique monsters and offering a strong family message, Sketch truly stands out as one of the best films of the season.