This movie is a lovely balm for all the truly horrible things going on in the world. Take 97 minutes and get away from it all with Abominable.

I don’t think Abominable is the beginning of another cash cow franchise for Dreamworks, like How to Train Your Dragon and Shrek, but it is a refreshing, uplifting trip to the movies. Not to mention that our little yeti friend, Everest, is truly adorable. Think hairy, non-verbal Baymax with magical powers.

Abominable tells the story of Yi, a teenager still trying to figure out how to navigate adolescence without her father by her side. She spends all of her time running around town doing errands for family friends to make enough money to travel to all the places her father wanted to take her. Meanwhile, her mother and grandmother are back home, wishing Yi would just talk to them, spend time with them, maybe even share a meal once in a while. One fateful night, Yi is hanging out on her building’s roof, plotting and considering her dream trip, when an unexpected discovery throws her headfirst into the adventure of her lifetime.

There are so many themes running through this film. Threads about authenticity, protecting nature’s most precious miracles, the healing power of music, the importance of family, not taking people for granted, not judging a book by its cover, dreams coming true when you least expect them to, and so many more.

It’s a busy film, and I think if they had centered the message a little better and focused on one or two themes, it would have felt a little more cohesive, but the muddled themes don’t distract from the irresistible charm and innocence on display.

Which is bountiful. Whether it’s Yi finding herself delighted by Everest’s nature-focused magic, Everest bonding with his new friend Peng, Jin freaking out about how dirty his shoes are getting, or the sweetest little gerbil-like creature cozying up to people he thinks are his friends, this movie’s charm factor explodes off the screen. It’s hard not to just find yourself engulfed in the innocent joy and impune-like nature of Abominable.

It’s just infectious. These three kids go wandering around Asia’s most beautiful countrysides, seeing everything from rural farming communities, to the Gobi Desert, to the Himalayas and back again, and do so without any serious, major issues. If this were an adult-intentioned drama, these three kids would end the film tired, hungry, bloodied, and bruised from their insanely complicated journey. Because it’s young and idealistic, you just feel the joy, and it’s so much more gratifying.

I also must comment on the beauty of Everest’s magic. The ways in which the animators chose to illustrate the power and strength of this legendary creature blew me away. Every time Everest hums his little song to summon nature’s power, you can feel the anticipation of what comes next vibrating through your bones. You just know something insanely wonderful is about to happen.

Also, giving Yi the healing power of music at her disposal was a stroke of genius. Watching as she fully embraces the talent she has nurtured and honed through years of practice alongside her father, Yi regains an invaluable comforting presence during her journey through the wilds of Asia. She remembers the joy she felt with her violin in her arms, not the pain of losing the parent who introduced her to it.

So, basically, take your kids. Take your parents. Take your friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, and grandparents. Everyone will find something to enjoy in this charming, lovely little film, even if it’s just to get away from the turmoil and darkness surrounding us these days. We all need a break now and again, and Abominable is ready and waiting to take you far away from life’s most pestering troubles.

Abominable is playing now in theaters nationwide.