Elements of the real-life Leonardo Da Vinci are woven into a clever fantasy tale about a chase after buried treasure in Leo Da Vinci: Mission Mona Lisa. The real-life Leonardo was a jack of many trades, and the storytellers reference a few of them as pirates who try to turn his immense talents to their profit.
The story takes off when young Leo wants to show off another of his inventions to Lisa, presumably years before he immortalized her in the painting, the Mona Lisa. While he’s trying to impress her, a fire levels her family’s farm. She blames Leo for her absence and never wants to see him again. Desperate to get back in Lisa’s good graces, Leo tries to find a way to help. He uses a diving suit as a means of walking the ocean floor to find buried treasure. He also uses a flying machine—and these were indeed things that he designed in real life, even if he wasn’t able to realize them.
Pirates kidnap his friends in an attempt to force Leo to bring them the treasure. So, Leo’s task is to rescue his friends, save Lisa’s family’s farm and navigate a way to a happy ending. It’s an adventure illustrated with fantastic animation, a little humor and nothing that would likely cause a parent to wince. As such, it merits the Dove-Approved Seal for All Ages.
The Dove Take:
It’s family friendly, fun, and—though not faith-filled—sparks enough imagination that the real-life Da Vinci might have been proud to be animated in such fashion.
