Grief comes in waves. It also comes to everyone differently. The key is to allow yourself time to think, reflect, and process a loss. If you don’t, it can come back to you in strange ways. That’s one of the lessons in the new movie Sketch, which opens in theaters today.

The film premiered last September at the Toronto International Film Festival. It comes from Angel Studios, and while it’s a film aimed at younger viewers, it contains lessons that are relevant for everyone.

The film centers on Amber (Bianca Belle) and Jack (Kue Lawrence) who are dealing with grief over the death of their mother. Their father, Taylor (Tony Hale), does his best. He’s tried to help them move on mostly by forgetting the part and focusing on the future. That’s part of the reason they are trying to sell their house and move somewhere for a fresh start.

Amber channels her grief—and frustration at the world around her—through her drawings. They used to be sources of inspiration and light, but now they’ve become darker. The school is concerned, as is Taylor. He wants her to have an outlet, but he’s worried about what the sketches might mean.

Jack reacts by trying to be strong for his sister and his father. He takes his cue from Taylor about moving on and keeping feelings bottled up. That becomes harder when he finds a lake near their house that can seemingly heal broken things, or make things come to life. When Amber’s book of dark sketches falls in the water, it creates mayhem for the whole town.

As Jack and Amber, along with classmate Bowman (Kalon Cox), trying to search for solutions. Taylor and his sister, Liz (D’Arcy Carden), search for the kids to keep them safe. Along the way, everyone has to reckon with their loss, what it means to their lives, and how to find a ways forward.

This film, from writer/director Seth Worley, is a breezy watch. It’s a crisp 92 minutes, filled with colorful sequences and monsters, some fun jokes, and some heart-warming performances. It’s a PG-rated outing, making it good for audiences of all ages, too. That’s a rare gift in the theatrical landscape in 2025.

The film is at its best when it leans into these characters and their meditation on grief. That’s true of the back-and-forth between Belle and Lawrence, who have a fun relationship as brother-and sister, and with Hale and Carden, who also make a pretty great brother-and-sister duo. I enjoyed the pathos and the drama, but I also enjoyed the moments of comedy. That’s particularly true of the back-and-forth between Hale and Carden, who are delightful in these roles.

The monsters that make up the heart of the drama and plot here are colorful and unique. They aren’t overly frightening, but it does make for some nice stakes. That also leads to some beautiful moments of pathos for these characters on their journey, too.

It’s easy to dismiss this as a film for kids. In fact, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I sat down to watch in. But I found something delightful, colorful, and entertaining. I enjoyed the ride and I think families out there looking for a late summer escape will feel the same.

Sketch opens in theaters nationwide Wednesday, August 6.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.