‘Leap’ doesn’t live up to hopes, but it’s worth jumping into

Animated ballerina tale ‘Leap’ doesn’t quite reach its aspirations, but it’s largely lovely

“Leap” is about two orphans who follow their dreams to Paris in the late 19th century.

“Leap” is an animated adventure about an aspiring ballerina who, over the course of the tale, becomes increasingly graceful. ¶ So it is ironic — and frustrating — that “Leap” stumbles down its climactic stretch, tripping over itself on the way to its inevitable conclusion. ¶ That aside, there simply is a lot to love — from the often-gorgeous scenic design to the vocal performances to its young and determined heroine — with “Leap.”

Set in 1880s France and released last year in parts of Europe under the title “Ballerina,” “Leap” is the story of 11-year-old Felicie (voiced by Elle Fanning), who, along with best friend Victor (Nat Wolff), dreams of escaping their country orphanage. They will run away to Paris, where she will train at the prestigious and competitive Opera Ballet School and he will work to become a famous inventor.

Escape they will, using the first iteration of an invention by Victor that will prove to be important throughout the course of “Leap.” (He calls the contraption he straps on his back to give him flight “chicken wings,” a concept that terrifies Feliimpolitecie, who, unlike Victor, knows that chickens do not fly.)

But make it to Paris they do — despite the best efforts of the hideous-looking overseer of the orphanage, Luteau (Mel Brooks) — arriving at a time when the Eiffel Tower is not yet completed.

Soon they are separated, and a scared Felicie wanders the streets at night and finds her way to the school, where she is promptly turned away, only after being saved from a worse fate by the custodian, Odette (pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen).

THE WEINSTEIN CO.