Lava is a perfectly pleasant Pixar short that delivers exactly what it promises: a sweet, simple love story about patient volcanoes set to a catchy (arguably too catchy) ukulele tune. It's gorgeous to look at, completely safe for any age, and sneaks in some light lessons about geological time and perseverance.

The main limitation is that it's a one-trick pony—the song repeats, the story is linear, and at 9 minutes you're either charmed or you're checking your watch. Kids under 8 will likely find it delightful; older kids might roll their eyes at the simplicity. Parents should prepare for the earworm that will haunt their dreams.

It's the kind of thing that played before Inside Out in theaters and parents thought 'aw, cute' and then mostly forgot about. Solid, wholesome, beautifully made, but not exactly a must-watch cultural touchstone. If you've got 9 minutes and want something genuinely sweet and safe, you could do much worse.